Dani Carvajal's World Cup Chances: Luis de la Fuente's Warning
Luis de la Fuente has left the World Cup door ajar for Dani Carvajal – but only just.
The Spain coach confirmed the veteran right back remains in contention for his squad, yet made it clear that reputation alone will not carry the Real Madrid defender to the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico this summer.
“Carvajal is a very important figure in our dressing room,” De la Fuente said on Wednesday, underlining the 34-year-old’s standing within the national setup.
He revealed he had spoken to the player on Tuesday and played down fears of a major problem after Carvajal suffered a foot issue in training with Real Madrid last week.
He stressed there is “no specific injury, nothing serious,” but the message was blunt: Carvajal must prove he can reach his usual level in the final stretch of the season.
That is where the real battle lies.
Carvajal has struggled for minutes at club level this campaign, squeezed by fierce competition from Trent Alexander-Arnold on the right side of Real Madrid’s defence. For a player used to being a permanent fixture in both club and country line-ups, this has been an unfamiliar, uncomfortable year.
He has featured for Spain just once in 2025. For a World Cup-bound squad, that is a thin body of work.
De la Fuente did not hide from the hard reality. He admitted Carvajal would understand if he is ultimately left out of the final list for a tournament that runs from June 11 to July 19, a nod to the defender’s experience and professionalism as much as to the ruthlessness required at this level.
Spain’s manager will use the remaining matches as a live audition. “We’ll see in the remaining matches whether he truly gets the opportunity and delivers the performances,” he said. The implication is clear: every minute on the pitch now carries extra weight for Carvajal’s World Cup hopes.
The right back is not alone in facing a race against time. He joins a growing group of players nursing problems in the decisive weeks before the tournament, with Spanish star Lamine Yamal also among those dealing with injuries. For De la Fuente, the build-up is becoming a balancing act between loyalty, form and fitness.
All of this unfolds as Carvajal approaches the final weeks of his contract with Real Madrid, adding another layer of uncertainty to a pivotal moment in his career. His future at club level is unresolved; his international future, at least in the short term, hangs on what he can show between now and June.
Spain open their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 and will also meet Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H. By then, De la Fuente’s decision on Carvajal will be long made.
The question now is simple: can a player who once defined Spain’s right flank summon one more surge when it matters most?
