Fermín López’s injury will force adjustments in the Spanish national team’s squad for the 2026 Mundial. The Barcelona midfielder was injured and will need to undergo surgery, eliminating one of the coach’s most versatile names to play in the bands. The decision on the 26 players selected will be announced on the 25th, in Madri, but the absence of the Catalan already redesigns the competitive scenario for these positions.
De la Fuente faces a tactical puzzle. Fermín was a key player precisely because of his versatility: he could act as a winger on the left or move through the middle, allowing the coach to vary formations and responses depending on the match. Essa’s flexibility made the player indispensable in the original plans. With him out, opportunities open up for names that came in the shadow of the intense competition in that area of the field.
Options consolidated on the flanks
On the left, Álex Baena of Atlético of Madrid is the most tested resource during the period in which Nico Williams remains recovering. Williams has not played for the national team since September, when he suffered an injury in the game against Turquia. Seu’s return is expected, but with caution. Quando both reach the call-up, they will be between cottons, prioritizing recovery until the second game of the group against Uruguai.
Esse scenario increases the chances of protagonism for whoever enters the list alongside you. The expectation is that Williams and Lamine Yamal, the other starting winger, will not even know the details of Copa from Mundo until after the debut, such is the need for rest. Isso multiplies the minutes of those who join the delegation as an alternative.
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Moleiro emerges as top contender
Alberto Moleiro meets the conditions that De la Fuente seeks. The Villarreal winger had an exceptional season, racking up goals and assists that caught attention even before this crisis. In the previous evaluation, in March, the technician preferred to observe Víctor Muñoz and Barrenetxea before registering the canary. Agora, Fermín’s injury makes Moleiro a practically mandatory figure.
The versatility of Moleiro deserves to be highlighted. Pode operates on both wings and also inside the field, offering similar tactical flexibility to what De la Fuente lost with Fermín. The technical team has been following him for some time. The intensification of monitoring in recent months suggests preparatory movement for a larger call.
Outros names in dispute
Víctor Muñoz’s Osasuna also forces his way into the conversation. The Catalan left a good impact in the minutes he played against Sérvia and Egito. Seu’s profile is distinct: explosive speed, ability to change games through dribbling and acceleration. Porém, suffered from a soleus injury and ended the weekend with muscle overload after facing Espanyol, which worries the committee.
Ander Barrenetxea of Real Sociedad had built solid arguments. Seu at the end of the season was a clear claim for a place in the 26. An injury against Espanyol ended his possibilities abruptly. The quinielas leave Yeremy Pino in an apparently distant position, but the Villarreal winger maintains a constant presence in recent calls. Out of 16 lists, he was on 13, absent only after his serious knee injury in the previous Euro.
The ripple effect in midfield
Fermín’s absence causes developments beyond the wing. Pablo Fornals, Betis’s midfielder, can benefit from this circumstance. European under-21 Campeão with De la Fuente in 2019, Fornals remained out of plans until November last year. Sua inclusion in March marked rapprochement. The end of the campaign at Betis, the club that competes with Champions, raised its level and opened up space for more serious consideration. Pode can serve as an option in the center of the field or, in a lateral tactical movement, replace functions that Fermín performed.
Outros candidates such as De Frutos, from Rayo Vallecano, and Ansu Fati remain on the sidelines of priorities. Their opportunities diminish as the draft structure consolidates.
The decision timetable
May 25th marks the announcement of the final list in the Madrid-based Gran Vía space Movistar. Até there, De la Fuente has days to evaluate recoveries, training performances and monitoring data. The Fermín lesion, although representing a substantive loss, triggers a selection mechanism that was already in motion. Espanha continues to have a robust offensive structure, but its versatility disappears with its absence.
The Riojan coach has maintained a clear plan since September 2023, when Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams played together against Geórgia. The wings are consolidated as a zone of questions, but now answered. The list that will be revealed reflects not only technical quality, but also the ability to adapt in the face of adversity.