Pedri Drops To Bench For Spain In FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Against Argentina

Spain began the FIFA World Cup 2026 final against Argentina without Pedri in the starting lineup. For the third straight game, Pedri has been benched by Spain manager Luis de la Fuente.

Pedri’s absence from the XI continues a pattern from Spain’s recent matches at the tournament. Manager Luis de la Fuente once again chose not to include the midfielder in his starting selection. The decision comes for the fixture that determines the World Cup champion between Spain and Argentina.

The selection for the final mirrors Spain’s team sheets from the two prior matches, with Pedri positioned among the substitutes on the bench. Luis de la Fuente’s personnel choices have left the Spain midfielder out of the first XI in consecutive encounters. The final presents the same scenario, with Argentina as the opposition.

Observers will note that this is the third consecutive appearance in which Pedri has not been named to start by the Spain manager. The pattern is consistent across Spain’s latest matches in the tournament. In this decisive match against Argentina, the manager maintained the same approach.

Pedri remains available to be introduced from the bench should Luis de la Fuente decide to utilize him later in the game. The Spain squad lists him among the substitutes for the World Cup 2026 final. His role for the match will therefore be determined after the opening phases of play.

The choice to leave Pedri out of the starting XI has now occurred across three straight Spain games at the tournament. Against Argentina in the final, the Spain manager once again named him as a substitute. The match will confirm whether Pedri is called upon to influence the outcome.