Strongest Team In The World Cup: Spain and the Yamal Gamble, Pressure On the “King” of Europe
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner, the Spanish national team is entering its final stages of preparation, positioning itself as a top contender for the title. Under coach Luis de la Fuente, they possess a young, deep squad boasting the rising superstar FYAMAL.
Top national and continental teams are ready to compete at World Cup 2026. Join us as we take a look at the teams considered the strongest at the biggest football event on the planet, in a series starting May 16th!
Let’s join Phlwin in learning more about this superstar player, Yamal!
Oyarzabal Shines, Yamal Becomes A Great Hope
After scoring the decisive goal that helped Spain defeat England in the EURO 2024 final, Mikel Oyarzabal has almost completely secured the number one striker position. The Real Sociedad forward is in superb form with 11 goals and 5 assists in his last 10 appearances for the national team.
In goal, Joan Garcia has been the most consistent player at club level this season, but coach Luis de la Fuente is likely to still place his trust in long-time number one goalkeeper Unai Simon.
Meanwhile, Marcos Llorente is having a breakout season with Atletico Madrid and could overtake Pedro Porro to claim the starting spot at right-back.
The biggest focus remains on Lamine Yamal. Despite being only 18 years old, the FC Barcelona star has become a new icon of Spanish football and is considered one of the most promising players at the 2026 World Cup. Although currently injured and unlikely to be in peak physical condition when the World Cup begins, fans in Spain still have high expectations for the young Barca star.
Morata’s Decline, Huijsen Loses His Place
In contrast to Oyarzabal’s resurgence, Alvaro Morata’s performance has declined alarmingly. The former Spain captain has yet to score a goal in 22 Serie A matches for Como and has not been called up since September 2025.
Another regrettable case is Dean Huijsen. The young center-back was once considered a sure bet for the starting lineup at the World Cup, but his inconsistent form since joining Real Madrid has forced the coaching staff to consider other options, including Pau Cubarsi of Barcelona.
Injury Concerns and the Rodri Problem
A season ravaged by injuries has cast doubt on Nico Williams’ place in the World Cup squad. Similarly, Lamine Yamal had to end his season early and is currently recovering from a hamstring injury to be fit for Spain’s opening match against Cabo Verde (0:00 on June 16th, Philippine time).
In midfield, Fabian Ruiz has just returned from a knee injury, while Pedri is still not at his peak due to a hamstring problem.
De la Fuente’s biggest headache lies in the defensive midfield position. Rodri was once an untouchable choice before the EURO 2024 final, but injuries have kept him sidelined for much of the season. Meanwhile, Martin Zubimendi has performed excellently in the Nations League and World Cup qualifiers.
In theory, Rodri and Zubimendi could play together, but Spain currently has too many creative midfielders like Ruiz, Pedri, Dani Olmo, and Fermin Lopez.
Yamal Leads Spain’s New Generation
While Spain’s 2018 and 2022 World Cups were overshadowed by controversies surrounding successive coaches and former federation president Luis Rubiales, the Spanish national team is now aiming for a more stable and discreet image under De la Fuente and federation president Rafael Louzan.
Yamal Shines Brightly at EURO 2024
As the reigning European champions and ranked second in the FIFA rankings after France, Spain is not shying away from its role as a title contender. The inclusion of Yamal further heightens expectations, provided he regains his best form before the tournament.
It is expected that up to 10 Barcelona players will be included in the final 26-man squad (to be announced on May 26th), while Real Madrid risks having only one representative, Huijsen, if the central defender is selected.
Beyond the professional aspect, the Spanish national team also faces several off-field issues. A friendly match against Egypt in March saw anti-Islamic chants from the stands, prompting Yamal (a Muslim) to protest on social media.
The planned “Finalissima” match against Argentina in Qatar was also canceled due to geopolitical tensions involving the US, Israel, and Iran. Instead, Spain won 3-0 against Serbia and drew 0-0 with Egypt in their alternative friendly matches.
Before the 2026 World Cup, Spain will have two more warm-up matches against Iraq in La Coruna on June 4th and Peru in Puebla (Mexico) on June 8th.
Essentially, Spain should have little difficulty getting through the group stage, as their opponents are not particularly strong. The most notable is Uruguay, while Cabo Verde and Saudi Arabia are unlikely to pose much of a challenge to “La Roja”. But to progress further, even aiming for a second World Cup title in history, it will be a long and arduous journey for Yamal and his teammates.
