Barcelona continue to strengthen their influence within the Spanish national team setup, with another emerging talent now earning recognition from Luis de la Fuente ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This time, the player attracting attention is Marc Bernal.
According to SPORT, the young Barcelona midfielder has been included as one of Spain’s support players during the initial preparation phase for the tournament.
It must be noted that Barcelona dominate the core of Spain’s national team, with eight first-team stars named in the World Cup squad.
What is a support player?
While he will not officially travel with the final World Cup squad, his inclusion is still viewed as an important sign of the faith the national team staff has in his long-term potential.
Bernal will gain valuable experience. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Bernal is expected to help complete training sessions during Spain’s early camp in preparation for the competition.
His role will remain limited to the domestic stage of preparations, meaning his participation will end once the national team departs for the Americas.
The support group assembled by De la Fuente will be formed by several young players who have impressed heavily at youth level.
Valuable experience for Bernal
Alongside Bernal, the support squad also includes Gonzalo Garcia from Real Madrid, as well as a collection of highly rated prospects from clubs across Spain and Europe.
The group is expected to assist the first team during the opening stage of the training camp before Spain play their first preparation match against Iraq at Estadio Riazor on June 4.
Bernal will not travel with the squad for the World Cup. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)
Importantly, the midfielder is not part of Spain’s official preliminary 55-man World Cup list.
That means he would not be eligible to join the tournament later even if injuries occur during the competition.
As such, training alongside elite international players, understanding the demands of the senior environment and working directly under De la Fuente will all contribute positively to Bernal’s growth.
And all this will eventually result in a senior team call-up in the future, which looks like a certainty for now.