Field Level Media
04 Jun 2026, 06:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: REUTERS/Albert Gea)
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Lamine Yamal could be fit in time for the team's first World Cup match against Cape Verde on June 15 as the forward recovers from a torn left hamstring.
Yamal suffered the injury during a match for Barcelona on April 22. He was ruled out for the remainder of the club's La Liga season, but de la Fuente said he had 'no doubt' the 18-year-old star would be available when the coach including him on Spain's 26-man roster May 25.
It was thought that Yamal might miss part or all of the group stage, but de la Fuente said Wednesday that he expects him to be fit to face Cape Verde in Atlanta. However, he will not play in Thursday's friendly against Iraq along with fellow injured Spain players Nico Williams and Victor Munoz.
'If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15,' De la Fuente said at a press conference. 'It doesn't mean that for sure he will play, we'll see. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match. We will have to evaluate.'
Spain will play against Peru in Mexico on Monday before traveling to their World Cup training camp in Chattanooga, Tenn. Following their opener against Cape Verde, Spain will play Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta and Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara.
Yamal finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting for the best player in the world. He also helped Spain win the Euro 2024 title after turning 17 during the tournament.
He has six goals in 25 career appearances for the Spanish national team.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Venezuela Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Venezuela Star.
More InformationNEW YORK, New York - Wall Street suffered a dramatic sell-off on Wednesday as a new outbreak of hostilities in the U.S.-Iran conflict...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: U.S. job openings rose unexpectedly in April, reaching their highest level in nearly a year, but economists cautioned...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon said consumers could begin changing their spending habits in the second half...
BECOV NAD TEPLOU, Czech Republic: A collection of wine from the late 19th century, which had been hidden for many years under the floor...
NEW YORK, New York - Pushing aside global geopolitical and economic upheaval, U.S. stock markets closed higher on Tuesday, with the...
OMAHA, Nebraska: Berkshire Hathaway has agreed to acquire homebuilder Taylor Morrison Home Corp. for $6.8 billion in cash, marking...
GENEVA, Switzerland: The United Nations weather agency said on June 2 that a moderate or possibly strong El Niño could develop, which...
GENEVA, Switzerland: Global health organization CEPI has committed roughly $60 million to accelerate the development of vaccines against...
BUDAPEST, Hungary: Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar said on June 1, after meeting President Tamas Sulyok, that if the president...
TEL AVIV, Israel: Benjamin Netanyahu is facing criticism at home after U.S. President Donald Trump said Israel would stop plans to...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: Iran has stopped indirect talks with the United States after Israel ordered its troops to move deeper into Lebanon to...
BEIJING/TAIPEI: China's Coast Guard said on June 1 that it carried out law enforcement patrols in waters east of Taiwan. This was...
