Luis Enrique’s Spain revamp is almost complete, as La Roja eye a World Cup adventure with a wonderful squad packed full of red-hot talent and big-stage experience. Spain Squad FIFA World Cup 2022 provide below.
Spain remain in something of a transitional phase heading into Qatar 2022, as they look to finally emulate the success last enjoyed on the global stage at the 2010 World Cup.
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 must be considered amongst the leading candidates for this year’s crown.
Spain Squad FIFA World Cup 2022
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.
| Position | Player | Club | Age | Caps |
| Goalkeeper | David Raya | Brentford (ENG) | 27 | 1 |
| Goalkeeper | Robert Sanchez | Brighton (ENG) | 24 | 1 |
| Goalkeeper | Unai Simon | Athletic Bilbao (SPA) | 25 | 7 |
| Defender | Jordi Alba | Barcelona (SPA) | 33 | 86 |
| Defender | Hugo Guillamon | Valencia (SPA) | 22 | 3 |
| Defender | Cesar Azpilicueta | Chelsea (ENG) | 33 | 41 |
| Defender | Dani Carvajal | Real Madrid (SPA) | 30 | 30 |
| Defender | Eric Garcia | Barcelona (SPA) | 21 | 18 |
| Defender | Jose Gaya | Valencia (SPA) | 27 | 18 |
| Defender | Aymeric Laporte | Manchester City (ENG) | 28 | 15 |
| Defender | Pau Torres | Villarreal (SPA) | 25 | 21 |
| Midfielder | Sergio Busquets | Barcelona (SPA) | 36 | 146 |
| Midfielder | Gavi | Barcelona (SPA) | 18 | 12 |
| Midfielder | Koke | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 30 | 67 |
| Midfielder | Marcos Llorente | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 27 | 17 |
| Midfielder | Pedri | Barcelona (SPA) | 19 | 14 |
| Midfielder | Rodri | Manchester City (ENG) | 26 | 34 |
| Midfielder | Carlos Soler | PSG (FRA) | 25 | 11 |
| Midfielder | Dani Olmo | RB Leipzig (GER) | 24 | 24 |
| Forward | Marco Asensio | Real Madrid (SPA) | 26 | 29 |
| Forward | Ansu Fati | Barcelona (SPA) | 19 | 4 |
| Forward | Alvaro Morata | Atletico Madrid (SPA) | 29 | 57 |
| Forward | Yeremi Pino | Villarreal (SPA) | 20 | 6 |
| Forward | Ferran Torres | Barcelona (SPA) | 22 | 30 |
| Forward | Nico Williams | Athletic Bilbao (SPA) | 20 | 2 |
| Forward | Pablo Sarabia | Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) | 30 | 24 |
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.
Spain World Cup group
It’s a tricky Group E that awaits Spain in Qatar. If they can overcome this test unscathed, the other leading challengers will likely sit up and take notice.
Costa Rica and Japan have both reached the knockout rounds in recent times, while 2014 world champions Germany are rock solid once again after a catastrophic time in Russia and disappointment at Euro 2021.
Spain World Cup fixtures and match schedule
| Date | Match | Time (ET) | Stadium |
| Wed, Nov. 23 | Spain vs. Costa Rica | 11:00 a.m. | Al Thumama Stadium |
| Sun, Nov. 27 | Spain vs. Germany | 2:00 p.m. | Al Bayt Stadium |
| Thu, Dec. 1 | Spain vs. Japan | 2:00 p.m. | Khalifa International Stadium |
Spain vs Costa Rica squad, lineup
With a mix of youth and experience that is now battle-hardened on the big stage, it’s unlikely there will be too many shocks in Enrique’s starting lineup for the opening test against Costa Rica.
Spain projected starting XI vs Costa Rica
GK: Simon
DFs: Carvajal, Garcia, Laporte, Alba
MFs: Gavi, Busquets, Pedri
FWs: Torres, Sarabia, Morata
COACH
LUIS ENRIQUE
Spain’s true superstar is their coach, Luis Enrique. He has instilled the team with a distinct style in which risk and dominance go hand in hand.
THE STAR
PEDRI
The Barcelona youngster orchestrates play with a confidence and swagger that’s unbefitting of his age. He’s slick with the ball, a line breaker, and he has a natural ability for doing things that oth-ers can only dream of.
LINE-UP (1-4-3-3)
THE BEST
They will always take the game to the opponent, no mat-ter who they find themselves up against.
THE WORST
This current Spain are an inexperienced team with questions about whether or not they’ll be able to man-age the pressure of a World Cup.
CONCLUSION
Spain are coming into the World Cup at the peak of a curve that has seen Luis Enrique’s European Championship semi-finalists grow from initial doubts to being a whisker away from winning the UEFA Nations League. Beating Spain has become a tough task, but that does not change the fact that Spain will suffer as well. Luis Enrique has given the national team a distinct style, and that is full of risks and is based on a group concept in which only those who blindly believe in what the coach says will show up and take part.
By Fernando Pérez
(Football Analyst, Spain)
Bengali