Fresh off a historic Premier League title, Mikel Arteta’s stars join the reigning European champions in North America as Spain hunts a second world title in 2026.
David Raya, Mikel Merino and Martin Zubimendi have been named in Spain’s final squad for the 2026 World Cup, giving Arsenal three representatives in Luis de la Fuente’s 26-player group.
The Arsenal trio have been selected at the end of a season in which Mikel Arteta’s side won the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. Spain, the reigning European champions, will begin their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on 15 June before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H.
For Raya, the selection arrives after another outstanding campaign in goal. The 30-year-old kept 19 clean sheets in 37 Premier League appearances to win the Golden Glove for a third consecutive season, becoming only the fourth goalkeeper to achieve that run in the competition. He has also kept nine clean sheets during Arsenal’s route to the Champions League final.
Raya, who was part of Spain’s squad at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, has been selected alongside Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simón and Barcelona’s Joan García. His place in the group comes after Arsenal team-mate Merino publicly argued that Raya’s season had earned him the chance to compete for the starting role.
Merino’s inclusion is a significant moment after the midfielder returned from a lengthy foot injury before Arsenal’s final Premier League match of the season against Crystal Palace. The 29-year-old had admitted in an interview that the initial recovery timeline left him fearing he could miss both Arsenal’s decisive fixtures and the World Cup.
He now has the opportunity to represent Spain at the tournament after playing a central role during qualification. Merino scored in Spain’s opening qualifying win over Bulgaria before adding a hat-trick against Turkey and two further goals in the 4-0 victory over Bulgaria in October.
Zubimendi has also been retained by De la Fuente after establishing himself in Arsenal’s title-winning midfield during his first season in north London. The former Real Sociedad midfielder was involved throughout Spain’s qualifying campaign, providing an assist against Bulgaria in September before scoring in the 4-0 win away to Georgia in November.
The three selections continue Arsenal’s strong representation at the tournament. England have already named Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke in their final squad, while Martin Odegaard will captain Norway and Leandro Trossard is heading to the tournament with Belgium.
Spain announced their squad through a film featuring King Felipe VI alongside supporters from across the country, with the Arsenal trio confirmed among the players charged with trying to add a second World Cup title to the nation’s European crown.
Before attention turns fully to the World Cup, Raya, Merino and Zubimendi still have one final club challenge ahead of them. Arsenal face PSG in Budapest with the opportunity to follow their Premier League title by winning the Champions League for the first time in the club’s history.
