Dean Huijsen releases first statement after missing out on Spain's World Cup squad

Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen has spoken out for the first time since he was left out of Luis de la Fuente's Spain squad for World Cup 2026.

Spain will play at a World Cup without a single Real Madrid player for the first time and Huijsen was among the most surprising omissions when De la Fuente named his 26-man squad on Monday.

The 21-year-old, who signed for Real Madrid from Bournemouth for £50 million last summer, played the full 90 minutes in Spain's most recent international fixture against Egypt as recently as two months ago.

Amsterdam-born Huijsen made six senior Spain appearances in 2025, beginning with his international debut in March.

It was reported on Tuesday that Huijsen's inner circle believed his inclusion in the World Cup squad was nailed on, in part because of the player's involvement in promotional campaigns in advance of the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.

Teammate Dani Carvajal was also left out along with EURO 2024 captain Alvaro Morata and Atletico Madrid defender Robin Le Normand.

Huijsen himself has made his first public statement since the squad announcement.

"Many congratulations to my teammates who will be attending the World Cup," the centre-back posted on X, formerly Twitter, on Wednesday.

"I will be supporting them from home like every other Spaniard."

Spain's central defenders at the World Cup

De la Fuente's team will compete in Group H next month.

The winners of World Cup 2010 will begin their campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta before meeting Saudi Arabia, also in Atlanta, and Uruguay in Zapopan.

Athletic Club's Aymeric Laporte has been preferred to the former Cherries starlet along with Atleti's Marc Pubill and Eric Garcia and Pau Cubarsi of Barcelona.

At 19, Cubarsi is younger than Huijsen but has played 11 senior internationals. Pubill, who can also play as a full-back, is uncapped.

Spain's 26-man World Cup squad in full

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon, David Raya, Joan Garcia

Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Alejandro Grimaldo, Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Marc Pubill, Eric García, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro

Midfielders: Pedri, Fabian Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Gavi, Rodrigo Hernandez, Alex Baena, Mikel Merino, Mikel Oyarzabal

Forwards: Dani Olmo, Nico Williams, Yeremy Pino, Ferran Torres, Borja Iglesias, Víctor Munoz, Lamine Yamal