Six Spain stars still unused at the 2026 World Cup with two games left
DIRECT ANSWER: With only two matches left at the 2026 World Cup, six Spain squad players still have zero minutes: Martin Zubimendi, Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric García, Víctor Muñoz, David Raya, and Joan García. Luis de la Fuente has kept Rodri as his undisputed No. 6, leaving martn zubimendi and others on the bench despite Spain reaching the semifinals.
Key Takeaways
- Six of Spain's 26 World Cup call-ups have not played a single minute through six matches.
- De la Fuente calls Rodri the world's best No. 6 and Martin Zubimendi the second best, yet only Rodri has featured.
- Grimaldo, Eric García, and Zubimendi reportedly feel sidelined, raising questions about future Spain call-ups.
- Víctor Muñoz missed early games through injury; goalkeepers Raya and Joan García sit behind Unai Simón.
- Spain face France on 14 July with few signs De la Fuente will rotate his trusted starters.
Which Spain players still have zero minutes at the 2026 World Cup?
Reporting from Los Angeles on 11 July, Agencia EFE via Yahoo Noticias confirmed that Alejandro Grimaldo, Eric García, Martin Zubimendi, and Víctor Muñoz, plus goalkeepers David Raya and Joan García, are the only members of Luis de la Fuente's 26-man squad yet to appear.
None featured across six fixtures: the 0-0 with Cape Verde, wins over Saudi Arabia (4-0), Austria (3-0), Portugal (1-0), and Belgium (2-1), and the 0-1 defeat of Uruguay. De la Fuente has used 20 players overall, with 16 starting at least once.
Why has Martin Zubimendi not played for Spain?
Rodri has been immovable at pivot. After Spain beat Portugal, De la Fuente said Rodri is "the guiding light" and the best player in the world in that role, with Martin Zubimendi "the second best." Yet Zubimendi remains unused.
Estadio Deportivo notes Rodri delivered his strongest World Cup performance in the Belgium quarter-final—94% passing accuracy and 118 touches—making a Zubimendi debut before the France semifinal unlikely. With two games left, time is running out for the Arsenal midfielder.
What is blocking Grimaldo, Eric García, and the goalkeepers?
Marc Cucurella has played every minute at left-back (614 total), blocking Grimaldo on either flank. Grimaldo told reporters the situation is "complicated" despite strong club form. Eric García's versatility has not earned minutes; he also went unused at Qatar 2022.
Víctor Muñoz arrived injured and missed Spain's first three matches with a muscle problem that flared during World Cup training. In goal, Unai Simón has been fixed. Spain needed a result on the final group-stage day, so no "dead rubber" existed to rotate Raya or Joan García.
Could unused Spain stars miss future call-ups?
El Nacional reports Grimaldo, Zubimendi, and Eric García feel "marked" by their bench roles. None wants public friction while Spain compete, but frustration is building in their circles. If minutes do not come, future selections could be at risk.
De la Fuente runs a tight trust circle. Players who fall outside it often struggle to return. For veterans managing peak performance and career longevity, extended World Cup exile is more than a tactical footnote—it can reshape a national-team future.