The Spanish national team is currently in training to play the first two qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup. The squad arrives with positive feelings after last year's Euro Cup title, and the goal now is to keep the winning momentum. Luis de la Fuente has chosen to keep the core of the team that lifted the trophy, with very few changes to the squad list.
Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri, and Rodri are the pillars on which the team's play is built. The first two provide speed and the ability to break through on the wings, while Pedri and Rodri organize and connect the lines. With this foundation, Spain wants to secure its qualification as soon as possible.
Doubts arise in defense
The only open front seems to be in the defensive line. Dean Huijsen, now at Real Madrid, looks set to start at center back. However, his partner is still unclear.
The main options are Robin Le Normand, Dani Vivian, and the Barça player Pau Cubarsí. That's where some tension between the Federation and Barça is starting to show.
Cubarsí, considered one of the most promising talents from the blaugrana academy, has barely had any minutes with La Roja in recent matches. Neither the club nor the Barça fans understand this. At just 18 years old, he has already shown maturity against top-level opponents in LaLiga and in Europe, being an undisputed starter with Barça.
Does Luis de la Fuente not like him?
According to the outlet El Nacional, the reason why Cubarsí is not in the coach's immediate plans would be tactical. Luis de la Fuente is not fully convinced by his style when playing out from the back, since he considers him a player who takes too many risks in dangerous areas. This is a trait that, paradoxically, is celebrated in Barça's play style, where the center back becomes the initiator of plays.
This difference in criteria is causing discomfort in the Barça environment, where there are fears that a familiar story will repeat itself: footballers trained at La Masia who do not find space in the national team. It would not be the first time that a blaugrana gem shines at the club but is left out at La Roja.
A situation that could escalate
For now, the tension is simmering beneath the surface, but the decisions in the upcoming matches will be key. If Cubarsí remains on the bench while other less established players get minutes, the debate about meritocracy in the national team will return. Even more so if Huijsen—for whom, in addition, Barça was also bidding—continues to rack up starts.