Spain at the World Cup in Atlanta: Roster, Group H outlook, schedule, players to watch

Atlanta soccer fans mostly felt hard done by when the World Cup schedule was announced in December. That’s mainly due to the relative lack of big-time matchups among the group stage matches despite some appealing storylines: Cabo Verde and Uzbekistan’s first World Cups, Morocco coming off a historic semifinal run in 2022, and DR Congo returning to the tournament for the first time since it was known as Zaire in 1974.

Spain, though, is more than just a cool story. It’s a big-time club, picked by many to win the whole thing. And Atlanta will get the opportunity to host them twice at Mercedes-Benz Stadium this summer. There’s one player who may not make an appearance (more on him later), but this is a dangerous side that could make it all the way to the final on July 19.

The skinny on Spain

Manager: Luis de la Fuente

17th World Cup appearance

Best finish: Champions (2010)

Spain’s World Cup group stage matches

vs. Cabo Verde, June 15 at noon ET, Atlanta

vs. Saudi Arabia, June 21 at noon ET, Atlanta

vs. Uruguay, June 26 at 8 p.m. ET, Guadalajara

Spain World Cup Roster

Goalkeepers

Unai Simón (Athletic Club), David Raya (Arsenal), Joan García (Barcelona)

Defenders

Pedro Porro (Tottenham Hotspur), Marcos Llorente (Atlético Madrid), Aymeric Laporte (Athletic Club), Pau Cubarsí (Barcelona), Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid), Eric García (Barcelona), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), Alejandro Grimaldo (Bayer Leverkusen)

Midfielders

Rodri (Manchester City), Martín Zubimendi (Arsenal), Pedri (Barcelona), Fabián (Paris Saint-Germain), Mikel Merino (Arsenal), Gavi (Barcelona), Álex Baena (Atlético Madrid)

Forwards

Mikel Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Lamine Yamal (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Borja Iglesias (Celta Vigo), Dani Olmo (Barcelona), Victor Múñoz (Osasuna), Nico Williams (Athletic Club), Yéremy Pino (Crystal Palace)

Spain’s Group H outlook

We’ll keep it short and sweet: we won’t see a situation where the Spanish are grouped like they were in 2014, four years after winning the tournament. Spain should win this group going away and may be qualified for the knockout round before facing Uruguay, the only team in the group that should give them any trouble, on June 26.

Spain’s knockout stage outlook

If Spain end up winning Group H it will be paired in the Round of 32 with the runner-up of Group J (probably Austria). That would put it in a Round of 16 matchup against either the runner-up of Group K (likely Colombia) or Group L (likely Croatia). Things might get interesting there because there’s a world where either Colombia or Croatia would beat Spain, but that’s not to say that Spain isn’t the favorite against either.

Should Spain make it to the quarterfinals, it will likely play against Belgium or Paraguay in Los Angeles on July 10 for a spot in the semifinals. And, if things fall into place elsewhere in the bracket, it might be Spain vs. France (or maybe the Netherlands) on July 14 in Dallas. If Spain can get past that one, a final on July 19 against Argentina or Brazil just might be in the cards.

In other words, it’s a fairly straightforward road to the final.

Three Spain players you need to know

Lamine Yamal

It will be interesting to see when the 18-year-old can make his World Cup debut after suffering a hamstring injury in April. It might be bad news for those planning to watch Spain in Atlanta, though, as reports indicate he could be held out of the first two group stage matches. Given its status as a heavy favorite in the group with or without him, Spain won’t push the youngster to make an appearance before the knockout round.

Rodri

Rodri is one of the most decorated No. 6s in the world: Ballon d’Or winner in 2024, four-time Premier League champion, a UEFA Champions League trophy in 2023, Euro 2024 champion, and so on. He’ll be a treat to watch patrol the midfield during the tournament, and has etched his name among the great defensive midfielders in his country.

David Raya

Arsenal allowed just 27 goals in 38 matches en route to its first Premier League title since 2003-04. Much of that is a credit to Raya, named the competition’s Golden Glove winner for the third season in a row. He could add to his haul in Budapest on May 30 as Arsenal face Paris St.-Germain in the Champions League final, after which he’ll join his fellow countrymen for friendlies against Iraq (June 4 in La Coruna) and Peru (June 8 in Puebla, Mexico) before La Roja head to base camp in Chattanooga.

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