Spain's World Cup squad: Ansu Fati in, Ramos and De Gea out

Luis Enrique excluded Sergio Ramos and David De Gea from Spain's 26-man World Cup squad Friday, opting instead for a younger group of players sourced primarily from La Liga.

Barcelona winger Ansu Fati - who's yet to recapture the promise he showed as a teenager after suffering back-to-back knee injuries - was a late addition to the squad, Enrique told reporters.

There was no room for Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara or Villarreal striker Gerard Moreno, who earned a Ballon d'Or nomination last year and scored twice for his country at Euro 2020.

Ramos, Spain's second-most-capped player at 180 matches, will sit out a second major tournament. Dogged by injury and a lack of form since joining Paris Saint-Germain in July 2021, the 36-year-old center-back missed the Euros last year and played a bit-part role in La Roja's World Cup qualifying campaign.

Enrique called up relatively inexperienced players in Ramos' place, including Villarreal defender Hugo Guillamon, who's only made three career appearances for Spain.

Eighteen of Enrique's 26 call-ups play their club football in Spain, with five coming from England's Premier League. Brentford goalkeeper David Raya and his Brighton & Hove Albion counterpart Robert Sanchez each made the cut ahead of Manchester Untied's De Gea.

Spain begins play in Group E on Nov. 23 against Costa Rica. Four days later, the one-time World Cup winner faces Germany in a blockbuster before rounding out group play against Japan on Dec. 1.

Spain's World Cup squad

Goalkeepers: Unai Simon (Athletic Bilbao), Robert Sanchez (Brighton & Hove Albion), David Raya (Brentford)

Defenders: Jose Gaya (Valencia), Jordi Alba (Barcelona), Eric Garcia (Barcelona), Aymeric Laporte (Manchester City), Pau Torres (Villarreal), Hugo Guillamon (Valencia), Cesar Azpilicueta (Chelsea), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid)

Midfielders: Rodri (Manchester City), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Marcos Llorente (Atletico Madrid), Sergio Busquets (Barcelona), Gavi (Barcelona), Pedri Gonzalez (Barcelona), Carlos Soler (Paris Saint-Germain)

Forwards: Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig), Pablo Sarabia (Paris Saint-Germain), Alvaro Morata (Atletico Madrid), Ansu Fati (Barcelona), Ferran Torres (Barcelona), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Nico Williams (Athletic Bilbao), Yeremy Pino (Villarreal)