Spain national team head coach Luis de la Fuente has officially confirmed that Lamine Yamal is fit and available for La Roja’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup against Cape Verde.
The Barcelona wonderkid suffered a muscle injury in mid-May, which sidelined him for nearly a month and a half. The injury had sparked intense speculation that the teenage star might miss the entire group stage of the tournament.
However, the Spanish manager put an end to the rumors, telling the media: “I was worried about Lamine’s recovery, but he is now ready to participate in the World Cup.”
De la Fuente also urged caution regarding the player’s age, adding: “We must not forget that he is only 18 years old, and we should not put immense pressure on him that could negatively affect him.”
The coach concluded: “Yamal is ready to play against Cape Verde, but not for the full 90 minutes.”
Spain’s World Cup Plan for Yamal, Nico Williams, and Victor Muñoz
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The Yamal Roadmap: According to Spanish media reports, the medical and technical staff plan to give Yamal roughly 15 minutes against Cape Verde, followed by extended playing time against Saudi Arabia. The ultimate goal is to have him 100% fit to start against Uruguay in the final group-stage fixture.
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Nico Williams Update: De la Fuente indicated that Nico Williams is in a similar physical situation and is also being eased back into action.
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Victor Muñoz Setback: On the other hand, Victor Muñoz requires more recovery time. The manager expects him to be fully fit by the start of the knockout rounds.
