Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will not wear the number 10 shirt for Spain at the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup. Instead, the teenage sensation has been assigned the number 19 jersey, while his Barcelona teammate Dani Olmo will don the legendary number 10 shirt.
Spain's Squad Numbers Released
Spain became the first nation to release their squad numbers for the 2026 World Cup, with coach Luis de la Fuente naming a 26-man squad that notably excludes any Real Madrid players for the first time. The squad includes Premier League stars such as David Raya (Arsenal), Marc Cucurella (Chelsea), and Rodri (Manchester City), alongside eight Barcelona players.
De la Fuente has expressed confidence in his team, describing them as one of the favorites for the tournament alongside two other nations.
Yamal's Decision to Keep No. 19
While many expected Yamal to inherit the iconic number 10 shirt for Spain, reports indicate that he personally chose to keep the number 19 jersey, which he has become accustomed to wearing for the national team. The number 10 shirt has been given to Dani Olmo, who previously wore it during Spain's triumphant Euro campaign.
Olmo commented on the decision: "There are no problems behind closed doors; there's no fuss about wearing the No. 10. It's just rumours going around outside. It's a number I've worn before, the one we won the Euros with. It's a number I like, so why change it when everything is going well."
Other Squad Numbers
Elsewhere in Spain's squad, Gavi has been handed the number 9 jersey, while Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal will wear numbers 17 and 21 respectively. Defenders Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi have been assigned numbers 14 and 22.
World Cup Campaign
Spain will face Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay in Group H as they seek their first World Cup title in 16 years. Yamal is expected to recover from an injury sustained in La Liga before their opening match against Cape Verde on June 15.
Di Maria's Favorites
Argentina legend Angel Di Maria has named France, Spain, and Portugal as the favorites to reach the semifinals of the 2026 World Cup, according to earlier reports.
