Six Spain players are heading to the final without a single minute played — and one of them was injured
Raya, Zubimendi, Grimaldo and three others reach the showdown against Argentina in New Jersey without setting foot on the pitch at the 2026 World Cup.
Spain arrive at the World Cup final against Argentina this Sunday in New Jersey with a curiosity that has gone largely unnoticed: six players called up by Luis de la Fuente have never set foot on the pitch. Seven matches. Twenty players used. Six still waiting.
The names? Goalkeepers David Raya and Joan García, kept out by Unai Simón's unshakeable grip on the number-one shirt. Defenders Álex Grimaldo and Eric García. Midfielder Martín Zubimendi. And forward Víctor Muñoz, who spent much of the tournament recovering from injury.
None of them were called upon in the quarter-final against Belgium or the semi-final against France. The final arrives and they are still waiting.
On the other side of the coin, seven players featured in all seven of Spain's matches — Unai Simón, Laporte, Cubarsí, Cucurella, Rodri, Pedri and Mikel Oyarzabal, the tournament's top scorer with five goals. The backbone of the campaign is rock solid, but the bench carries stories that deserve attention.
Raya, Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper, built his career in England's lower divisions before establishing himself in the Premier League at 30. Zubimendi, developed at Real Sociedad and signed by Arsenal, is widely regarded as the leading alternative to Rodri in midfield. Joan García, 25, was bought by Barcelona for €25 million after shining at Espanyol. Grimaldo lit up Bayer Leverkusen. Eric García, a former Manchester City player, can operate in three different positions. And Víctor Muñoz, 23, joined Liverpool in June — and has yet to make his debut for Spain at this World Cup.
Golmetria's model gives Spain a 49% chance of lifting the trophy, against 33% for Argentina — the technical favourite, but far from a certainty.
If De la Fuente makes no changes, those six go home with a medal and zero minutes. If the final demands something different, the story could change in stoppage time. It's the World Cup — it always can.