Iván Fresneda called up to Spain senior squad to replace injured Pedro Porro

Senior squad call-up following Porro injury

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente called up Sporting CP right-back Iván Fresneda on 20 September 2026 to join the senior national squad for four upcoming UEFA Nations League group matches. Fresneda enters the roster as a direct replacement for Tottenham Hotspur defender Pedro Porro, who sustained a right thigh injury during the 17th minute of his club's Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on 19 September 2026. Porro had previously been a member of the Spain squad that won the 2026 World Cup final against Argentina. Fresneda was selected for the senior team ahead of Barcelona defender Xavi Espart after having originally been designated for under-21 duty.

The Royal Spanish Football Federation confirmed the roster change in an official communication released on Sunday evening.

The Madrid-born right-back must join the senior Spanish national team training camp starting on Tuesday, 22 September at 13:00 at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas. Initially, the international player had been called up by David Gordo to play with the under-21 team.

Youth pathway and Sporting CP progression

To cover Fresneda's promotion, Spain under-21 manager David Gordo summoned Real Betis full-back Ángel Ortiz into the youth squad. Fresneda, who turns 22 on 28 September 2026, was born in Madrid and developed through the youth academies of Real Madrid and Leganés before moving to Real Valladolid at age 15. He made his top-tier league debut in Spain with Valladolid before completing a transfer to Sporting CP, where he is now in his third season competing in the UEFA Champions League and negotiating a contract extension. Fresneda has represented Spain across every national youth rank since the under-18 level, having previously also followed Porro as the primary right-back at Sporting CP.

Nations League schedule and roster newcomers

Spain enters the 2026-2027 UEFA Nations League Group 3 campaign aiming to build on its recent tournament record, which includes winning the 2022-2023 title and finishing as runners-up to Portugal in the subsequent final. De la Fuente's selection includes three players who had never previously been called up to the senior team. Fresneda joins Inter Milan goalkeeper Josep Martínez and Espanyol forward Roberto Fernández, both of whom were included in the manager's initial squad list announced on Friday, 18 September 2026. Fernández previously played in Portugal for SC Braga before moving to Espanyol.

Four-match itinerary across Europe

The national team begins its international window with a training camp at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas on Tuesday, 22 September 2026, before embarking on four matches across four different cities. Spain opens its group schedule on Saturday, 26 September 2026, away against England at Wembley Stadium in London. The squad then returns to domestic soil to play Croatia at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán Stadium in Seville on Tuesday, 29 September 2026. Four days later, on Saturday, 3 October 2026, Spain hosts the Czech Republic at the Carlos Tartiere Stadium in Oviedo. The fixture window concludes on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, with an away meeting against Croatia in Split.