World Cup
Eric Garcia's Spain wait despite Barcelona starring role
Barcelona defender Eric Garcia, 25, has been a regular under Hansi Flick this season, logging 3,955 minutes and ranking third in appearances, yet he remains an unused substitute for Spain at the 2026 World Cup, having watched the 1‑0 win over Uruguay from the bench.
Flick valued Garcia’s flexibility, deploying him both centrally and on the right flank throughout the 2025/26 campaign. Only Joan Garcia and Pau Cubarsí logged more minutes than him for Barcelona.
His consistency earned him a spot in Luis de la Fuente’s World Cup roster, with many analysts expecting him to feature prominently for La Roja. Garcia’s inclusion reflects his strong season form at Barcelona.
Spain secured a place in the Round of 16 after a 1‑0 victory over Uruguay, during which Garcia again watched from the bench. De la Fuente persisted with the central pairing of Pau Cubarsí and Aymeric Laporte, while Marcos Llorente and Pedro Porro shared right‑back duties.
The current sidelining mirrors Garcia’s experience at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, where Luis Enrique also left him unused across four matches. Back then, he also failed to make a tournament debut despite being in the squad.
Despite limited playing time, Garcia has remained upbeat, thanking de la Fuente for his selection and staying prepared to contribute. Spain’s three consecutive clean sheets have given the coach little incentive to alter his defensive line‑up.
As the knockout phase approaches, squad rotation may become more crucial, offering Garcia a potential window to finally appear on football’s biggest stage. He hopes his patience will be rewarded before the tournament concludes.