Luis de la Fuente announces squad with a message on mental health: “You are not alone”

To mark this occasion, national coach Luis de la Fuente announced Spain’s squad for the upcoming qualifiers against Georgia and Bulgaria with an emotional address. His message was supported by prominent figures from culture, sport, and media, including Pablo Alborán, Carolina Marín, Ricky Rubio, and Ibai Llanos.

“In our lives, in our families — our parents, our teenagers, our brothers and sisters, our friends — all of us have gone through difficult moments,” De la Fuente acknowledged in a video unveiling the 26-player list for the matches in Elche (October 11) and Valladolid (October 14).

As the first fixture coincides with World Mental Health Day, the coach stressed the importance of seeking help, ending stigma, and speaking openly about struggles. “We must normalize this, listen, and support those who need it. You are not alone, we are not alone,” De la Fuente concluded, before passing on to Olympic gold medalist Carolina Marín to begin reading out the squad, starting with the goalkeepers.

Both Marín and fellow participants Alborán, Rubio, and Llanos have previously shared their own experiences related to mental health, and now join this initiative of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, aimed at promoting psychological well-being.

The Spanish squad and coaching staff will gather at the Ciudad del Fútbol from Tuesday, October 7, ahead of a decisive week that could bring Spain closer to securing qualification for next year’s FIFA World Cup in Mexico, the United States, and Canada.