Marc Cucurella

Marc Cucurella is a confirmed defender in Spain's 26-man squad for the 2026 World Cup, named by Luis de la Fuente on 25 May 2026 alongside Aymeric Laporte, Marcos Llorente, Eric García, Pedro Porro, Álex Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Pubill. The Chelsea left-back is 27 at kick-off and brings 23 senior Spain caps and one international goal into the squad, with his first senior international goal coming in Spain's 3-0 win over Bulgaria on 4 September 2025 during 2026 World Cup qualification.

Spain face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H, opening against Cape Verde at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on 15 June. De la Fuente's side won UEFA Group E to qualify on 18 November 2025, and Cucurella is in the defender group on the 25 May 2026 squad announcement.

Cucurella is considered one of the best left-backs in the world, with the overlapping and underlapping runs from the left and the defensive discipline of a senior full-back as the core of his profile. He plays as a left-back or left wing-back and brings delivery from the left side of the pitch — the assist for Mikel Oyarzabal's winning goal in Spain's 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England came from that left-flank work. The wing-back option balances the orthodox full-back brief rather than being sacrificed for it.

De la Fuente's Spain still build through possession — 70.1% from the qualifiers — but the European champions now press higher and harder, with possession used as a launchpad for quick attacks when openings appear. Cucurella's 23 caps fit a left-back who has stepped up from every Spain youth level from under-16 to under-23, and his Euro 2024 final assist for Mikel Oyarzabal's winning goal in the 2-1 win over England sits alongside that progression. In the 4-3-3 he is listed in Spain's defender group on the official squad announcement.

Spain are a Tier 1 pick on the Goal Rush card at £32m within the game's £200m card budget, the premium top-band slot rather than a mid- or lower-tier call. The Group H draw against Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay sets the early fixture context, with de la Fuente's confirmed 4-3-3 and Spain's UEFA Group E qualifying run giving the team slot its main Goal Rush angle.

Cucurella is part of the Spain team card at that £32m slot as the listed left-back.