Spain Names Squad for Iraq Friendly With Several Stars Missing

Spain's national team has announced its squad for a friendly match against Iraq, with several key players absent from the lineup. The squad, unveiled by coach Luis de la Fuente, will be without David Raya, Martín Zubimendi, Fabián Ruiz, Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Víctor Muñoz, Pedri, Rodri and Mikel Oyarzabal. The goalkeeping duties will be handled by Unai Simón, Juan García and Leo Román. The defense includes Marc Pubill, Alejandro Grimaldo, Éric García, Marcos Llorente, Pedro Porro, Ímerik Laporte, Jon Martín and Javi Rodríguez. Midfielder options are Mikel Merino, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Álex Baena, Sergio Gómez, Marc Bernal, Javi Guerra and Bennat Torrent. The attacking options comprise Ferran Torres, Jeremy Pino, Gonzalo García, Jesús Rodríguez and Borja Iglesias. The friendly, scheduled for Thursday evening, is part of both teams' preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match will be played under rules consistent with the upcoming tournament's format. Iraq's national team aims to gain international experience by facing one of the world's strongest sides.