On Wednesday, FIFA announced its 2026 World Cup Dream XI, a lineup selected by fans worldwide through the FIFA+ Play Zone platform, in partnership with Aramco.
The lineup, arranged in a 4-3-3 formation, features Spain and France as the most represented teams, each contributing three players, despite Spain claiming victory in the tournament.
Spain secured their second World Cup title on July 19 by defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, thanks to Ferrán Torres' decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time.
Surprise Selection in Goalkeeping Spot
Yet, fan voting acknowledged only three Spanish players: Pedro Porro, Marc Cucurella, and Rodri Hernández, who was named MVP of the tournament and awarded the Golden Ball.
The most surprising inclusion was Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha (Josimar Dias, 40), who garnered nearly 40% of the votes, surpassing the official Golden Glove winner, Unai Simón.
Vozinha made 18 saves across four matches and kept two clean sheets, emerging as one of the group stage revelations.
In contrast, Unai Simón concluded the World Cup with seven clean sheets in eight matches, conceded only one goal, and set a new World Cup record for goalless minutes, with 650, but fans favored the seasoned African goalkeeper.
The Complete Lineup and Their Achievements
The defensive line features Lisandro Martínez (Argentina) and Dayot Upamecano (France) as center-backs, with Spanish full-backs Porro and Cucurella.
Cucurella played every possible minute for Spain, contributing two assists, while Porro scored twice during the tournament.
In midfield, Rodri leads the trio alongside Jude Bellingham (England) and Michael Olise (France).
Bellingham finished the tournament with seven goals and one assist, and Olise set a new World Cup record as the top assist provider, with seven assists.
Rodri, on his part, completed 799 passes with a 93% success rate across eight matches.
The attacking trio comprises the tournament's top scorers: Kylian Mbappé (France), Erling Haaland (Norway), and Lionel Messi (Argentina).
Mbappé claimed the Golden Boot by scoring 10 goals in eight matches, becoming the all-time leading World Cup scorer with 22 goals.
Messi tallied eight goals and four assists, while Haaland scored seven in his World Cup debut.
Controversial Omissions
The Dream XI also raises eyebrows for notable omissions.
As reported by Marca and Mundo Deportivo, neither Pau Cubarsí nor Aymeric Laporte were listed among the eligible candidates for central defense positions offered by FIFA to voters.
Cubarsí was named Best Young Player of the tournament by FIFA and concluded with a 98.3% pass accuracy, being the only under-20 player to play all championship minutes.
His exclusion from the ideal eleven reflects not fan choice, but a prior organizational decision.
Harry Kane, Lamine Yamal, and Laporte were also left out. It's noteworthy that Spain, despite winning the championship, has the same number of representatives as France, which exited in the semifinals.
In 2010, five Spaniards—Ramos, Puyol, Capdevila, Busquets, and Villa—were included in South Africa's World Cup Dream XI.
In 2026, with Spain once again champions, only three made it to the list that FIFA claims honors "the most outstanding players of the competition."
Key Questions About the 2026 World Cup Dream XI
Who was the biggest surprise in the 2026 FIFA Dream XI?
The biggest surprise was Cape Verdean goalkeeper Vozinha, who was selected over the official Golden Glove winner, Unai Simón.
How many Spanish players were included in the FIFA Dream XI?
Three Spanish players were included: Pedro Porro, Marc Cucurella, and Rodri Hernández.
What notable players were omitted from the 2026 FIFA Dream XI?
Notable omissions included Pau Cubarsí, Aymeric Laporte, Harry Kane, and Lamine Yamal.