Carvajal and Morata Left Off Spain's World Cup Roster

Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has made it official — veteran defenders Dani Carvajal and striker Álvaro Morata will not be part of La Roja's World Cup campaign. Both players were excluded from Spain's 55-man preliminary roster submitted to FIFA on May 11.

The absence of these two stars means that three of Spain's four captains from their triumphant Euro 2024 campaign won't be competing in North America this summer. Jesús Navas had already retired from international duty. With Carvajal and Morata now out of the picture, the captain's armband will rotate among Rodri, Unai Simón, and Ferran Torres.

Injury woes derail Carvajal's World Cup dream

For Carvajal, the decision comes as little surprise given his injury-plagued season. The Real Madrid right back has been sidelined for 109 days this campaign, dealing with a muscle injury, knee issues, and a fractured toe. When healthy enough to play, he managed just 886 minutes — ranking him 21st among Real Madrid players in playing time.

It's a dramatic fall from grace for a player who was the undisputed first-choice right back for both club and country for nearly a decade. Despite reports suggesting he's nearing a return to action against Oviedo, his 52-cap international career will continue without a World Cup appearance this summer.

Several of Carvajal's Real Madrid teammates did make the preliminary list, including Dean Huijsen, Fran García, and Gonzalo García. Among them, Huijsen appears to have the best chance of securing a spot in the final 26-man squad.

Como gamble fails to pay off for Morata

Morata's exclusion may sting even more. The veteran striker made a calculated move to Como in hopes of revitalizing his career under former Spain teammate Cesc Fàbregas. The plan was to regain his sharpness and secure his World Cup spot. Unfortunately, the gamble backfired spectacularly.

In 28 appearances this season, Morata scored just once — a devastating statistic for a player of his caliber. As Spain's fourth all-time leading scorer with 37 goals across 87 international matches, Morata's credentials were never in question. But in international football, current form trumps past achievements every time.

Neither player is a stranger to being overlooked — both were dropped from Spain's squads in October, November, and March. The signs have been clear for months that their World Cup hopes were fading.

Spain will select their final 26-player roster exclusively from the preliminary 55-man list. For Morata and Carvajal, the door has firmly closed. Their World Cup dream ends before the tournament even begins.