LALIGA stars set to make major impact at 2026 FIFA World Cup

-Five of World Cup’s ten most valuable players play in Spanish football- -86 players from 22 LALIGA clubs selected across 31 national teams for the tournament-

MADRID, June 19, 2026 /LALIGA=Kyodo JBN/ -- LALIGA will be strongly represented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup with 86 players drawn from LALIGA EA SPORTS (81) and LALIGA HYPERMOTION (5).

They will represent 31 national teams across four confederations, highlighting the international reach of Spanish football, the depth of talent across the league and the key role played by LALIGA club academies in fueling the national squad.

FIELDING GLOBAL STARS

LALIGA will be represented by many of the most recognisable talents in the global game, including Kylian Mbappé (France) and Jude Bellingham (England) of Real Madrid, Lamine Yamal and Pedri of FC Barcelona (Spain), Vinicius Jr of Real Madrid (Brazil), and Julián Álvarez of Atlético de Madrid (Argentina).

According to Transfermarkt valuations*, five of the ten most valuable players selected for the tournament currently play in LALIGA: FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal and Pedri, and Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham. The list highlights LALIGA’s depth of elite talent, spanning established World Cup winners and some of the game’s most exciting young players.

DEVELOPING SPANISH TALENT

The World Cup will also showcase the continued importance of LALIGA clubs to the Spanish national team. Seventeen players in Spain’s squad have been drawn from six different LALIGA clubs, with FC Barcelona (8), Atlético de Madrid (3) and Athletic Club (3) among the leading contributors.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente’s selections also highlight the enduring strength of Spanish football’s youth development model. All but one member of the Spain squad spent key development years within a LALIGA club academy, with players shaped by 12 different LALIGA academies. This broad spread demonstrates how clubs across Spanish football continue to identify, develop and prepare elite talent for the highest level of the international game.

HOME FOR INTERNATIONAL TALENT

LALIGA talent will be central to the ambitions of several of the tournament favourites. Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappé – a World Cup winner with France in 2018 – will again lead one of Europe’s strongest sides, while Julián Álvarez (Atlético de Madrid), a 2022 champion with Argentina, will be a key figure for the reigning world champions.

Vinicius Jr (Real Madrid) will be among Brazil’s standout attacking threats, Bellingham (Real Madrid) will be central to England’s hopes, and 18-year-old Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona) will arrive as one of the most exciting young players in world football for a Spain side – the current European Champions – with a record of competing deep into the tournament.

Four Spanish coaches will also be leading teams at the 2026 FIFA World Cup – Luis de la Fuente (Spain), Roberto Martinez (Portugal), Julen Lopetegui (Qatar) and Thomas Christiansen (Panama) – while nine World Cup managers have previously coached a LALIGA club.

On the LALIGA representation at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, LALIGA president Javier Tebas said:

“The scale and quality of LALIGA’s 86 representatives at this World Cup says a lot about the level of talent in Spanish football. These players are not just part of the tournament; many will be central to its outcome. It is also a reflection of the pathway that exists across Spanish football, where LALIGA club academies continue to develop players capable of reaching the highest level.”

About LALIGA 

LALIGA is the largest football ecosystem in the world. It is a private sports association composed of the 20 public limited sports companies (SADs) and clubs of LALIGA EA SPORTS and the 22 of LALIGA HYPERMOTION and is responsible for organising professional football competitions in Spain. LALIGA has over 268 million followers globally across social networks, on 16 platforms and in 20 different languages. With its headquarters in Madrid (Spain) it has the most extensive international network of any sports property and is present in 35 countries through 8 offices. The organisation carries out its social work through its foundation FUNDACIÓN LALIGA and was the world's first professional football league to establish a league for intellectually challenged footballers: LALIGA GENUINE Moeve.

Notes to editors:

* Figures correct as of 10 June 2026

The selected players from Spain’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal (FC Barcelona), who turns 19 in July, to Belgium’s 37-year-old Axel Witsel (Girona FC) one of the tournament’s most experienced LALIGA representatives.

LALIGA players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

Source: LALIGA