When Spain lifted the 2024 European Championship title, the football world got a sense that Luis De La Fuente’s charges had finally rediscovered their peak performance years from the 2008 to the 2012 era of tiki taka dominance.
That was the start of a run, as the Spaniards went on to deliver Olympic gold a month later, before reaching the final of the 2025 UEFA Nations League, where they narrowly lost to Portugal.
Heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup, La Furia Roja touched down in North America even scarier. Spain are more vertical and more ruthless than ever before.
Just like with Luis Enrique’s PSG, La Roja plays with an aggressive, direct transition model that feeds on speed, isolation, and spatial chaos.
While the side will still rely on the experience of Rodri to anchor the midfield as its heartbeat, the rest of the framework largely consists of true Gen-Z anomalies.
Handpicked for the official 26-man squad, these five young stars under the age of 24 are the tactical keys to unlocking global dominance.
(Disclaimer: Striver.Football has chosen to exclude Lamine Yamal and Pedri for the list, given they are already established superstars despite fitting the current age description)
5. Joan Garcia (Barcelona)
Age: 25
Position: Goalkeeper
Style: Joan Garcia is a physically imposing, ultra modern goalkeeper who has earned plenty of plaudits this year, including being a leading contender to clinch the La Liga player of the season, even if he narrowly lost it to fellow teammate Yamal.
Possessing cat-like reflexes and exceptional sweeping skills, Garcia forced his way into the squad through sheer domestic brilliance, proving completely unbothered by high-intensity press environments when building out from the back.
While first choice goalkeeper Unai Simon and the elite Arsenal counterpart David Raya represent the traditional pecking order, Garcia’s inclusion creates an elite goalkeeping crucible.
Coming off a spectacular club campaign, his presence puts immense pressure on the starting ranks, offering De la Fuente an incredibly composed, aerially dominant alternative if La Roja needs to combat direct, physical tournament attacks.
4. Victor Munoz (Osasuna)
Age: 22
Position: Winger / Inside Forward
Style: Victor Munoz is the absolute wildcard of De la Fuente’s selections. Munoz is a lightning-fast vertical threat who has clocked a blistering 35km/h domestically.
He is an uncompromised, aggressive direct dribbler who specializes in making dangerous off-the-ball runs that systematically collapse defensive backlines.
With the speedstar scoring on his international debut earlier this year, there is a sense he has been brought in specifically to break tournament fatigue.
Just like Jesus Navas used to offer the legendary 2008-2012 sides a vertical option off the bench, Munoz’s directness will be key if used the same way, especially against tiring low-block set ups. He will be a key transition tool for them off the bench.
3. Marc Pubill (Atletico Madrid)
Age: 22
Position: Right-Back
Style: The Atletico Madrid defender is an athletic, aerially robust fullback who is both defensively solid and also competent in attack with his ability to help create 2v1 situations while overlapping.
Pubill also boasts positional versatility and elite recovery speed in the event his side is caught out on the transition.
Although he has not been getting as much football as he would have wished at Atletico, being used more as a squad option by Diego Simeone, he will give Spain a highly reliable defensive security blanket on the right flank when called upon.
His profile will allow Lamine Yamal the complete freedom to omit deep defensive backtracking, knowing the half-spaces behind them are completely locked down.
2. Gavi (Barcelona)
Age: 21
Position: Central / Attacking Midfield
Style: Gavi is a relentless, combat-ready midfielder who has technical ability in abundance. The Barcelona man plays with a fierce, emotionally charged intensity, combining an elite, close-quarters scanning rhythm with an ungodly counter-pressing work rate that completely disrupts opposing build-up phases.
Having missed previous international highlights through some tough injuries, Gavi returns to the tournament stage with everything to prove. He will introduce grit to a midfield heavily populated by pure technicians. He will serve as Spain's defensive shield, transitional shield and ball-dominant midfielder, which will give them solutions in all three phases of play.
Honorable Mention: Yeremy Pino - Crystal Palace
Age: 23
Position: Winger / Inside Forward
Style: Pino is a direct attacker who boasts flair in plenty, but with tactical discipline.The former Villareal man possesses a knack for isolating full-backs or drifting inside to overload central defensive spaces, and also has an eye for goal.
Pino is a luxury depth option for De la Fuente in North America. Having exposed himself to the physicality of Premier League football in the 2025/2026 season while also helping them to their first-ever continental title, Pino will give Spain an elite, high-tempo attacking option to completely alter game states late in the second half.
1. Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
Age: 19
Position: Center-Back
Style: As we recently highlighted in our 10 exciting wonderkids to watch at the upcoming World Cup piece, Cubarsi is a breathtakingly mature, ball-playing center-back prodigy.
Cubarsi reads the game like a veteran tactician, possessing velvet-smooth composure under high physical pressure and a line-breaking passing radar that instantly transforms deep possession into vertical attacks.
Spain's backline remains the one area of their department where Luis De La Fuente has yet to find permanent solutions. Cubarsi will be trusted to anchor the defence partnering with older heads like Aymeric Laporte.
Can Spain's Young Core Deliver Another World Cup?
Spain are certainly one of the most exciting teams to watch at the upcoming tournament, and their young blood will be key to helping them maintain their dominance.
If Luis de la Fuente can successfully mesh the veteran stability of the likes of Rodri, Dani Olmo and Fabian Ruiz with the fearlessness of his younger players, then a second world title will be in their grasp come the end of the tournament.
