The Spanish national team has decided to take no risks with its crown jewel. Lamine Yamal will not feature in the first two matches of La Roja at the 2026 World Cup to ensure he recovers fully from a muscle injury and to avoid any setbacks that could jeopardize his presence in the knockout stages.
Recovery Timeline and the De la Fuente Plan
The 18-year-old Barcelona sensation suffered a muscle injury about two weeks ago, requiring a total of six weeks for a full recovery. According to Mundo Deportivo, head coach Luis de la Fuente will sideline Yamal for the matches against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia. The plan is for the winger to return to action in the group stage finale against Uruguay.
Mirroring the Dani Olmo Strategy
De la Fuente is confident that his squad depth can handle Yamal’s absence. He views the Euro 2024 experience with Dani Olmo—where the player was eased into the tournament before becoming a decisive factor—as the perfect blueprint for Yamal.
Agreement with Barcelona
The decision also comes following intense communication between Barcelona and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). The Catalan club insisted on a cautious approach to ensure the player doesn’t suffer a long-term injury. All parties have agreed that prioritizing Yamal’s health in the early stages is the best path for both the national team’s World Cup ambitions and his upcoming season with Barça.
