Despite having the ability to compete for the World Cup, Spain coach De la Fuente emphasized that complacency is unacceptable.

Spain, nicknamed the "La Roja," will continue their preparations for the 2026 World Cup in two friendly matches against Iraq and Peru. President de la Fuente stated that being considered a World Cup favorite offers no advantage and urged the players to pay attention to every detail in each game.

In the European qualifiers for the World Cup, Spain secured their place in the finals with an undefeated record of 5 wins and 1 draw.

Spain's head coach, De la Fuente, said, "I think we are very clear about the talent and squad depth we have. To me, we have one of the best players in the world. But we also know that there are many other very strong teams. Among the teams that are truly capable of winning the title, there are probably eight, nine, or even ten teams that have a chance to become world champions, and Spain is just one of them."

"However, being a favorite doesn't guarantee anything. We must do every detail well, minimize mistakes, and be at our best on match day to ensure we are not defeated by any opponent."

Furthermore, the 18-year-old Yamar contributed 16 goals and 11 assists for Barcelona in the 2025/26 La Liga season. Ultimately, Flick's team successfully lifted the La Liga title again. However, Yamar suffered a leg injury in the final stages of that season. Nevertheless, the young striker still joined the squad alongside Olmo and Ferran Torres.

Speaking about Yamal's condition, De la Fuente said, "We believe Yamal will come to the national team in good condition. We are in close communication with all the clubs, and they update us on the player's recovery every day."

“We know he will eventually return to his best form, and I would even venture to say that he is likely to be fit for the first game. However, we will continue to monitor his recovery progress.”

De la Fuente also said, "He must continue to maintain his consistent performance, continue to improve and train harder, while also taking better care of his body, although he is already doing very well."

Image source: Internet