Spain has suffered a major setback ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after Barcelona midfielder Fermín López was ruled out with a serious foot injury.

The Catalan club confirmed that the player sustained a fracture in the metatarsal bone of his right foot during the recent match against Real Betis and will undergo surgery in the coming days.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente had reportedly planned to include López in the tournament squad following his impressive performances with Barcelona over the past two seasons and his contributions to the national team.