Spain Faces Backlash for Dropping Pedri From World Cup Semifinal Lineup

Spain's national football team announced their starting lineup nearly two hours before their 2026 World Cup semifinal match against Belgium, revealing a surprising omission: Pedri was left out while Fabian Ruiz was included. This decision by coach Luis de la Fuente sparked significant criticism in the Spanish media. Marca highlighted the shock, noting that de la Fuente reverted to the midfield trio of Rodri, Fabian Ruiz, and Dani Olmo, which had secured Spain's Euro 2024 victory, but without Pedri, who had been sidelined by injury during that tournament.

Andres Weiss from DAZN called the move "dangerous," expressing that although there were known challenges in pairing Rodri and Pedri, he expected the coach to find a way to include both in the starting eleven. Sport magazine also expressed surprise, stating that while Marino or Fran were expected to be omitted, few anticipated Pedri's exclusion. They criticized de la Fuente for not maximizing Pedri's potential as Barcelona's coach Xavi Hernández has done, calling the decision bold and risky.

Pedri's injury during Euro 2024 had forced him out of the midfield lineup that excelled against France and England en route to Spain's European Championship title. The Spanish media's reaction underscores the high expectations placed on Pedri and the controversy surrounding his absence in such a crucial World Cup match.