Neither Álvaro Morata nor Dani Carvajal will feature in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as confirmed by the 55-man provisional squad that the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) submitted to FIFA on May 11. The final 26-player roster will be drawn from this list, but the absence of two veteran captains from Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph—along with Jesús Navas—marks a significant shift. Morata and Carvajal, both key figures in Spain’s recent successes, had been uncertain selections, but according to sources, manager Luis de la Fuente has made a definitive decision.
Carvajal’s injury struggles have been relentless, with 109 days sidelined this season due to a muscle issue, a knee problem, and a fractured phalanx in his right foot, from which he is still recovering. Even when fit, he has lacked consistency at Real Madrid, ranking 21st in minutes played with just 886 minutes on the pitch. Morata, on the other hand, sought a fresh start at Como under Cesc Fàbregas to reignite his form for the World Cup, but it hasn’t materialized. The striker, Spain’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 37 goals in 87 caps, has managed only one goal in 28 club appearances this season, a drought that outweighed his leadership value within the squad.
BeSoccer Pro performance panel for Carvajal.
The writing was on the wall after Morata was left out of the national team’s October, November, and March call-ups, despite being included in September and for the Nations League Final Four. Carvajal similarly missed those later squads after initially being called up in September. Now, both are out of the World Cup. As a result, Rodri, Unai Simón, and Ferran Torres will serve as Spain’s captaincy trio.
BeSoccer Pro performance panel for Morata.
De la Fuente recently addressed Carvajal’s situation, keeping the door slightly open but acknowledging the defender would understand a difficult decision. “He doesn’t have a serious injury, but he needs time to show his level. We’ll see if he can prove it. Just as I brought him into the squad before, he’ll accept it if I have to make the opposite choice,” the coach said. That choice has now been made, putting Carvajal’s international cap count at 52 for the time being.
