Barcelona back at heart of Spain's World Cup hopes

In 2010 Spain were crowned world champions on the back of players from both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Sixteen years on and with the 2026 World Cup approaching, a question resonates across Catalunya and Spain: can Barcelona consolidate itself as the sole heart of La Roja?

The national team’s 2010 triumph rested heavily on those two clubs. Twelve of Spain’s 23 players came from Barcelona and Real Madrid, with figures such as Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Xabi Alonso and others from Madrid, and Víctor Valdés, Carles Puyol, Gerard Piqué, Sergio Busquets, Xavi, Andrés Iniesta and Pedro from Barcelona.

Vicente del Bosque blended Barcelona’s precision and Madrid’s strength into a style that controlled possession, pressed relentlessly and capitalised on opponents’ mistakes. Barcelona’s club era set the standard—following a historic sextuple in 2009 the Blaugrana remained a global benchmark, though dependence on Lionel Messi and subsequent departures exposed structural challenges.

Spain, Catalunya

barcelona, real madrid, la roja, 2010, world cup, 2026, lionel messi, del bosque, xavi, sergio busquets