​Spain midfielder Gavi was among three players chosen by the national team to speak to the press on the eve of their 2026 FIFA World Cup quarterfinal clash with Belgium in Los Angeles, a match that could propel La Roja into the semifinals. After starting Spain’s opening game, Gavi subsequently dropped out of the starting lineup and did not feature in the following group stage matches. The Barcelona youngster played only a few minutes versus Austria and did not appear against Portugal either.
Gavi addressed his current limited involvement with the squad during the World Cup, telling MARCA that he came to win the tournament and that the coach knows him well. “I came here to win the World Cup. The coach knows me better than anyone. Of course, every player wants to play more, but what really matters is winning the World Cup. He knows he can count on me whenever he needs me.”
The midfielder has had a peripheral role for Spain, but he stressed his desire to play a decisive part for the rest of the tournament and even described a dream scenario. “Of course I hope to be important in this World Cup. I dream of scoring the goal that wins us the title. I’ve always dreamed of scoring with a bicycle kick in a World Cup final… and having it come against Messi’s Argentina,” he said.
During his media chat, Gavi also reflected on the atmosphere inside Luis de la Fuente’s squad and stressed the importance for all players to understand their roles, whether they are on the pitch or not. “It’s important that everyone understands their role, whether they play or not. We have to represent our country through unity, with each player contributing their part,” he noted.
Reinforcing that unity and dressing room camaraderie were Spain’s strongest assets, Gavi added: “We’re a very close group, and one of our greatest strengths is that unity. Even the players who don’t get on the pitch help us win matches.”
When asked whether Spain should be viewed as tournament favorites, Gavi dismissed the notion. “I don’t like talking about that. Belgium have outstanding players, just like Portugal. We have to focus on doing our job well. If we do that, things will go our way. Right now, the only thing that matters is beating Belgium.”
Asked which semi-final opponent he would prefer—France or Morocco—he smiled before replying: “They’re both fantastic teams, but I’d say Morocco, because they knocked us out in Qatar.”
Finally, Gavi laughed about the intensity that has become one of his trademarks. “I’m very intense. Everyone knows that. It’s normal that some teammates get tired of me sometimes. I always try to think about what’s best for the team, whether I’m playing or not.”