For the first time in history, the Spain national team will go to a World Cup without a single player from Real Madrid in the squad.
Coach Luis de la Fuente announced his final 26-man list on Monday, and defender Dean Huijsen was among the notable omissions.
Huijsen had been seen as the last realistic chance for Madrid to have representation in the squad after injuries and selection setbacks ruled out players such as Dani Carvajal.
Instead, Spain’s squad was dominated by players from FC Barcelona, including Lamine Yamal, Pedri and Gavi.
The decision has created strong reactions online, especially because Huijsen only recently committed his international future to Spain.
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Born in Amsterdam, Huijsen represented the Netherlands at youth level before switching allegiance to Spain in 2024. The defender, who moved to Spain at the age of five, later explained that he chose La Roja because he felt Spanish.
The discussion around his omission intensified after Huijsen reacted on social media following the squad announcement.
His father, Donny Huijsen, shared a Sofascore Team of the Season graphic featuring Dean among the league’s top defenders, which the Real Madrid youngster later reposted himself. Many fans saw the post as a sign of frustration after being left out of Spain’s World Cup squad.
Can Dean Huijsen Switch to Netherlands?
No, Huijsen cannot switch to the Netherlands now.
Although he was born in the Netherlands and played for Dutch youth teams earlier in his career, he has already represented Spain at senior competitive level.
Under FIFA rules, once a player plays official senior matches for one national team, changing countries becomes extremely difficult unless very specific conditions are met.
Huijsen made competitive appearances for Spain in the UEFA Nations League during 2025, which tied him to Spain internationally.
A one-time switch is normally only possible if a player had very limited appearances before turning 21 and had not played in major tournament matches. Since Huijsen has already become part of Spain’s senior setup and was used in official competition, he is considered committed to Spain.
So even after missing the 2026 World Cup squad, Huijsen remains a Spain international and is not expected to be eligible for the Netherlands again.
