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Spain is celebrating another World Cup win. The national team lifted the trophy after a tournament that confirmed the maturity of a group now firmly part of the country’s sporting history, following their victory over Argentina.
Yet the title is not only about football. It also connects to the neighbourhoods, towns and cities where it all began, because behind every champion there is a different story. Here’s a look at where all the players in the national team that won the 2026 World Cup were born.
Unai Simón
Before becoming Spain’s first-choice goalkeeper, Unai Simón took his first steps in the Basque Country. Born in Vitoria-Gasteiz in 1997 and raised in Murgia, he trained at modest clubs before being brought into Athletic Club’s academy at Lezama. On his father’s side, his family comes from the Zamora village of San Marcial del Vino.
Murgia is a small town in Álava at the foot of the Gorbea Natural Park. With only a few thousand residents, it is associated with its natural surroundings and a deeply rooted cycling tradition in the area.
Pedro Porro
Extremadura is where Pedro Porro’s story begins. Raised in Don Benito, Badajoz, he started with local sides such as Gimnástico before moving to Girona and projecting himself onto the international stage. His development as an attacking full-back took him to Portugal and later to the Premier League, where he now lives.
Don Benito, in the Las Vegas Altas district, is a city shaped by agriculture and trade. With close to 37,000 residents, it is one of the most active hubs in the province of Badajoz.
Pau Cubarsí
In Pau Cubarsí’s case, named the tournament’s best young player, the contrast is striking: a tiny rural setting to the heights of international football. He was born in Estanyol, Girona, in 2007 and joined La Masia at a very early age. His precocity caught attention at Barcelona, where he made his debut as a teenager.
Estanyol has fewer than 200 inhabitants and forms part of the municipality of Bescanó, inland in the province of Girona, not far from the provincial capital. Surrounded by fields and calm countryside, it is where his family run a carpentry business.
Aymeric Laporte
Aymeric Laporte’s story is the only one that begins outside Spain. It starts in Agen, in south-west France. Spotted by Athletic Club at a young age, he developed much of his career there before achieving success with Manchester City and returning to Bilbao. After obtaining Spanish nationality, he joined the national team.
Agen is a city associated with its agricultural heritage and its strategic position between Toulouse and Bordeaux. It has just over 30,000 residents and a strong regional identity.
Marc Cucurella
Trained at Espanyol and Barcelona, Marc Cucurella grew up in Alella, Barcelona, a town in the Maresme area. His charismatic personality has made him a firm favourite with supporters. After establishing himself in England, he signed for Real Madrid this summer.
Alella, home to just over 10,000 people, is associated with its wine-making tradition and its proximity to the Catalan capital. It lies just a few kilometres from Barcelona.
Rodri Hernández
Although born in Madrid in 1996, Rodri Hernández grew up in Villanueva de la Cañada, in the Villafranca del Castillo residential area. He began playing football there before progressing through the youth ranks at Rayo Majadahonda and Atlético de Madrid. Now a key figure at Manchester City, he was Spain’s driving force at this World Cup and won the award for best player of the tournament.
Villanueva de la Cañada, located to the west of the Madrid region, is a residential municipality that has grown considerably in recent decades, with spacious housing developments and a strong presence of young families.
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Fabian Ruiz
From Los Palacios y Villafranca to the top tier of European football. Fabián Ruiz came through the youth system at Real Betis. His career took him to Italy and later France, where he continued to build international experience. Now at PSG, he has lifted both the Champions League and the World Cup within a matter of weeks.
Los Palacios, in the metropolitan area of Seville, has around 40,000 residents and a strong footballing tradition. His teammate Gavi and former footballer Jesús Navas, who won the World Cup in 2010, also come from here.
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Dani Olmo
Few career paths have been as distinctive as Dani Olmo’s. Born in Terrassa, Barcelona, and raised in the Sant Pere Nord neighbourhood, he chose to move to Croatia at a young age to develop at Dinamo Zagreb. That decision shaped his progress before returning to major European leagues. His attacking versatility proved crucial at the World Cup.
Terrassa is one of the main cities in Barcelona’s metropolitan area, with more than 220,000 residents and a notable sporting tradition
Lamine Yamal
Although born in Esplugues de Llobregat in 2007 and now living in Ciutat Diagonal, Lamine Yamal’s childhood unfolded far from Barcelona’s more affluent districts. After his parents separated, he grew up between Mataró and Granollers, but it was in the Rocafonda neighbourhood where he began playing football and shaping his identity.
His well-known goal celebration, forming the number ‘304’, refers to the postcode of that neighbourhood. Rocafonda is one of the best-known areas of Mataró, situated in the northern part of the city and marked by a strong sense of community.
Nico Williams
Speed and flair with Navarrese roots. Nico Williams was born in Pamplona in 2002 and grew up in a family of Ghanaian origin before joining Athletic Club’s academy, where he now plays alongside his brother, who chose to represent the African nation at international level.
Pamplona, the capital of Navarre, is one of northern Spain’s most emblematic cities. It is internationally associated with the San Fermín festival and has around 200,000 residents, along with a strong sporting culture.
Ferran Torres
The goal that gave Spain its second World Cup was born in Foios, Valencia, a municipality in l’Horta Nord. It was here that Ferran Torres first stood out. He joined Valencia’s academy at a young age and made his First Division debut as a teenager. After his time in the Premier League, he returned to Spain and now plays for Barcelona.
Foios is close to the city of Valencia, with just over 7,000 residents and an agricultural tradition linked to the Valencian market gardens. It is well connected to the city by the Metrovalencia line.
Mikel Oyarzabal
Five of the goals scored by Mikel Oyarzábal at this World Cup trace their roots back to the streets of Éibar. Trained at Real Sociedad and with maternal roots in nearby Elorrio, he took on responsibility from an early age. Club captain and decisive at key moments, he lives in San Sebastián, where he has spent his entire career.
Éibar, in the province of Gipuzkoa, is an industrial city of around 27,000 residents. It has long been linked to the arms and metalworking industries and has a strong football culture, reflected in SD Eibar.
Luis de la Fuente (coach)
Spain’s manager, Luis de la Fuente, was born in Haro, La Rioja, in 1961. A former professional footballer who played as a left-back, he spent much of his career at Athletic Club and Sevilla. After managing Spain’s youth sides, he took charge of the senior team and has already lifted a European Championship and a World Cup.
Haro, internationally associated with its wines and located in the La Rioja Alta district, has around 11,000 residents. It has a strong wine-making and cultural tradition, exemplified by the popular Batalla del Vino.
Other Spanish national team players
The World Cup squad also included footballers from various parts of the country:
- Joan García: Barcelona’s current goalkeeper and winner of the Zamora Trophy this season, was born in Sallent, a town in the Bages district of Barcelona province, located on the banks of the River Llobregat.
- David Raya: Arsenal goalkeeper and established international, was born in Barcelona, grew up in Pallejà, and trained between Catalonia and England before settling in the Premier League.
- Alejandro Grimaldo: a left-back signed by Atlético, is from La Pobla de Vallbona (Valencia) and came through Barcelona’s academy before spending much of his career in Portugal and Germany.
- Marc Pubill: Atlético de Madrid defender, was born in Terrassa (Barcelona) but raised in Manresa. He developed in Catalonia before moving on to teams such as Levante and Almería.
- Eric García: Barcelona centre-back with a spell at Manchester City, was born in Martorell (Barcelona) and joined La Masia at a young age.
- Marcos Llorente: a versatile Atlético de Madrid player, is from Madrid and comes from a family with a long footballing tradition. His father is former footballer Paco Llorente.
- Martín Zubimendi: Arsenal midfielder and regular for the national team, was born in San Sebastián and developed entirely through Real Sociedad’s academy.
- Pedri: Barcelona midfielder, was born in Tegueste (Tenerife) and rose to the top level after impressing at UD Las Palmas.
- Gavi: Barcelona midfielder, is from Los Palacios y Villafranca (Seville), like Fabián. He trained at Real Betis before joining Barcelona at a young age.
- Álex Baena: Atlético de Madrid player and starter in the final, was born in Roquetas de Mar (Almería) and developed mainly at Villarreal. He now plays for Atlético de Madrid.
- Mikel Merino: Arsenal midfielder, is from Pamplona and has experience in both LaLiga and the Premier League.
- Yeremy Pino: Crystal Palace winger, was born in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and broke into top-level football at a young age.
- Borja Iglesias: Celta de Vigo striker, is from Santiago de Compostela and has spent most of his career in Spanish football.
- Víctor Muñoz: young Osasuna forward, comes from Barcelona, more precisely the working-class neighbourhood of Turó de la Peira. He impressed at Osasuna this season, earning a move to Liverpool.
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