Spain World Cup squad 2022: Barcelona youngster Alejandro Balde added to Luis Enrique's 26-man squad

Toby Miles

Spain World Cup squad 2022: Barcelona youngster Alejandro Balde added to Luis Enrique's 26-man squad image

Luis Enrique's Spain revamp is almost complete, as La Roja eye World Cup success with a wonderful squad packed full of red-hot talent and big-stage experience. 

Spain are coming off positive showings at Euro 2020, where they reached the semifinals with the likes of Pedri and Ferran Torres injecting life into the team. They also advanced to the 2021 UEFA Nations League final, losing to France with 10 minutes left.

These were positive signs as Spain transitions away from their golden generation that helped them win the 2010 World Cup. That was followed by a surprise group-stage exit in the 2014 edition and last-16 elimination in Russia four years later.

But now with a younger, and even stronger pool of talent to pick from for Qatar, Spain are considered amongst the leading candidates for this year's crown, completing a remarkable turnaround.

More: Spain World Cup's fixtures for Qatar 2022

Spain World Cup 2022 squad

Enrique continued his policy of unorthodox squad announcements with a dramatic live reading of his final 26 players for Qatar.

Barcelona are heavily represented in the squad, with veterans Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba joined by Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati, despite the latter's struggles for fitness.

Alejandro Balde was later added as a replacement for the injured Jose Gaya, taking Barca's total number of representatives at the World Cup to 17, the most of any club.

Stats correct as of start Qatar 2022

Position No. Player Club Age Caps*
GK 13 David Raya Brentford (ENG) 27 2
GK 1 Robert Sanchez  Brighton (ENG) 24 2
GK 23 Unai Simon Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 25 27
DEF 18 Jordi Alba  Barcelona (SPA) 33 87
DEF 15 Hugo Guillamon Valencia (SPA) 22 3
DEF 2 Cesar Azpilicueta Chelsea (ENG) 33 42
DEF 20 Dani Carvajal  Real Madrid (SPA) 30 31
DEF 3 Eric Garcia Barcelona (SPA) 21 19
DEF 14 Alejandro Balde Barcelona (SPA) 19 0
DEF 24 Aymeric Laporte Manchester City (ENG) 28 16
DEF 4 Pau Torres Villarreal (SPA) 25 22
MID 5 Sergio Busquets Barcelona (SPA) 36 146
MID 9 Gavi Barcelona (SPA) 18 13
MID 8 Koke Atletico Madrid (SPA) 30 68
MID 6 Marcos Llorente  Atletico Madrid (SPA)  27 17
MID 26 Pedri Barcelona (SPA) 19 14
MID 16 Rodri Manchester City (ENG) 26 35
MID 19 Carlos Soler PSG (FRA) 25 12
FWD 21 Dani Olmo RB Leipzig (GER) 24 25
FWD 10 Marco Asensio Real Madrid (SPA) 26 30
FWD 25 Ansu Fati Barcelona (SPA) 19 5
FWD 7 Alvaro Morata  Atletico Madrid (SPA) 29 57
FWD 17 Yeremi Pino Villarreal (SPA) 20 7
FWD 11 Ferran Torres Barcelona (SPA) 22 31
FWD 12 Nico Williams Athletic Bilbao (SPA) 20 3
FWD 22 Pablo Sarabia Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 30 25

*Caps correct as of Qatar 2022

WORLD CUP 2022 SELECTED SQUADS:
Australia | Argentina | Belgium | Brazil | Cameroon 
Canada | Costa Rica | Croatia | Denmark | England
France | Germany | Ghana | Iran | Japan | Mexico
Netherlands | Poland | Portugal | Qatar | Senegal
Serbia | Spain | Switzerland | Uruguay | USA | Wales 

Spain best player, national team strengths & weaknesses

Stars

Spain will bring a well-balanced, star-packed squad to Qatar. Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba among the last remaining members of the golden generation — both likely to be playing their final World Cup.

Barcelona trio Ferran Torres, Pedri and Gavi will add the star power from the new breed of Spanish talent.

Strengths

Spain's veterans will provide the backbone, but the key to glory lies in their young talents. Gavi (18), Pedri (19), Ansu Fati (19) and Ferran Torres (22) are already established names but could announce themselves as true superstars in Qatar. 

They'll provide the creative spark to keep Spain partying deep into the tournament. 

Weaknesses

Alvaro Morata has bagged an average of nearly one goal every two games for Spain, but he's a much less reliable focal point than predecessors Fernando Torres and David Villa.  

The Atletico Madrid striker, who has fallen short of his massive potential up to now, holds the opportunity to make a statement this year. There will certainly be no shortage of chances created for him.

Can Spain replace players on their World Cup squad?

Once the final 26-man roster is official, participating teams at the World Cup can only make changes before the first game of the tournament, and only in the case of extraordinary circumstances.

According to the official tournament rules (page 32), "a player listed on the final list may only be replaced in the event of serious injury or illness up until 24 hours before the start of his team's first match."

The team in question would need to submit a medical report to FIFA and if the world governing body determines "the injury or illness is sufficiently serious to prevent the player from taking part in the FIFA World Cup" then the replacement will be allowed. 

The replacement player must come from the preliminary list of players submitted to FIFA in October. 

Toby Miles

Toby Miles Photo

Toby joined Sporting News in 2022 ahead of the World Cup, bringing previous sports writing experience at MailOnline and UEFA. An Englishman and Chelsea fan still fuming about Frank Lampard's 2010 ghost goal but never afraid to say 'It's Coming Home'.