Confirmed: Three Barcelona stars in Spain starting lineup vs Belgium – Pedri benched

Confirmed: Three Barcelona stars in Spain starting lineup vs Belgium – Pedri benched Spain are all set to take on Belgium later tonight in the quarter-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With kickoff less than two hours away, manager Luis de la Fuente has announced the starting lineup that will take the field against the Red Devils. Three Barcelona stars but no Pedri As many as three Barcelona players feature in the starting XI for La Roja but in what comes as a major shock, superstar midfielder Pedri has been left out. The Barça midfield maestro has been a permanent fixture in the team for De la Fuente, but he has opted to leave him out tonight, replacing him with Fabian Ruiz as Rodri’s partner in the middle of the park. Meanwhile, Dani Olmo, who has emerged as a key player for Spain, continues as the attacking midfielder, while Lamine Yamal also retains his place on the right flank as usual. The third Barcelona player in the starting XI for La Roja happens to be Pau Cubarsi, who has easily been one of the best centre-backs in the World Cup so far. Along with Pedri, four other Barcelona players find themselves on the bench, including Ferran Torres, Gavi, Eric Garcia, and Joan Garcia, with the latter two having yet to make their debut at the tournament.