Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has unveiled his squad for the upcoming Nations League fixtures directly from Ceuta, delivering a powerful message of solidarity to the Spanish exclave in North Africa amid an ongoing migration crisis. Marking his first official squad announcement since leading La Roja to their second World Cup title in July, De la Fuente traveled to the city of just over 80,000 inhabitants to make his selections public alongside local residents. The choice of location serves as a deliberate gesture of support for the territory after a traumatic border incident in late July, when more than 70,000 people pushed across from Morocco, leading to over 100 fatalities in the chaos.
Though most of those who crossed returned swiftly, a few thousand remain in the city, where Christian and Muslim populations, as well as Spanish and Moroccan residents and day workers, typically coexist in relative harmony behind border fencing. EU Migration Commissioner Magnus Brunner highlighted that images from the crisis sparked widespread political discussions across Europe. Standing beside Ceuta’s residents, De la Fuente reinforced the bond between the mainland and the exclave, stating firmly, “This is Ceuta, this is Spain.” His message reflects a broader movement across the country recognizing that the North African territory, long treated as an afterthought by many on the mainland, requires firm national support.
Focus now shifts to competitive action on the pitch, where Spain begin a challenging Nations League schedule against England, Croatia, and the Czech Republic. The World Cup champions kick off their campaign against England at Wembley Stadium on September 26. The fixture marks a historic moment for Spanish football, as the national team will step onto the pitch sporting two stars on their jerseys for the first time following their second global triumph. De la Fuente has kept faith with the core of his World Cup-winning group, choosing stability and familiarity as La Roja prepare to test themselves against elite European opposition once again.
To defend their international standing, De la Fuente selected a balance of reliable figures across key positions. The goalkeeping contingent comprises Athletic Bilbao’s Unai Simón, Arsenal’s David Raya, and Inter Milan’s Josep Martínez. Defensive options are headlined by Athletic Bilbao center-back Aymeric Laporte, Barcelona defensive pair Pau Cubarsí and Eric García, and Atlético Madrid duo Marc Pubill and Alejandro Grimaldo. Real Madrid defenders Marc Cucurella and Dean Huijsen have also been included alongside Tottenham Hotspur full-back Pedro Porro, giving Spain a well-rounded backline as they prepare for the journey to Wembley.
