FIFA has drawn sharp criticism from Spanish football circles after excluding defensive stalwarts Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi from the voting list for the best team of the 2026 World Cup, despite their commanding roles in leading Spain to their second tournament title at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The world governing body released its nominees for public voting on its official platform, conspicuously omitting the Spanish centre-back pairing who formed the tournament's most resilient defensive unit. Observers across Spain branded the decision "illogical and contradictory," questioning the selection criteria applied by FIFA's technical team. The exclusion becomes even more puzzling given that Cubarsi won the award for best young player—a prestigious individual honour that contradicts leaving him out of the team of the tournament.
Historic Defence Ignored
Spain recorded an extraordinary defensive achievement across their seven matches, conceding only one goal throughout the entire competition. Laporte and Cubarsi orchestrated this fortress-like backline with precision and leadership, yet FIFA opted instead to select Marc Cucurella and Pedro Porro as Spain's defensive representatives, alongside centre-backs from Argentina, Portugal, Netherlands, Brazil, and France in the proposed XI.
The omissions extended beyond the central defence. Dani Olmo and Mikel Merino, both Spanish midfielders who delivered standout tournament performances, also failed to make the cut. This pattern of exclusions has sparked wider debate about the transparency of FIFA's selection methodology. Meanwhile, Spain did secure midfield and attacking representation through Rodri, Lamine Yamal, and Nico Williams, ensuring some Spanish influence in the proposed team.
The controversy highlights the disconnect between individual accolades—like Cubarsi's young player award—and team recognition, leaving questions unanswered about how FIFA evaluates tournament contributions and why a nation's defensive excellence goes unrecognised in the official best XI voting process.
