Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal fit for World Cup opener

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente announced that Lamine Yamal is on course to be available for Spain's opening World Cup match against Cape Verde on June 15. The update comes ahead of the tournament's first group-stage fixture. Yamal has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury during Barcelona's La Liga victory over Celta Vigo in April. Initial concerns suggested he might miss Spain's opening match. The 18‑year‑old remained at Spain's training base in Chattanooga together with Nico Williams and Victor Munoz. He did not travel with the squad for the final World Cup warm‑up friendly against Peru. All three players are continuing their rehabilitation programmes ahead of the June 15 opener.

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Speaking before the Peru friendly, de la Fuente said that if there are no setbacks they expect the trio to be available on the 15th. He added that the three are within the expected timelines to arrive in good condition for June 15. The manager stressed that meeting those timelines is crucial for their selection. Yamal recorded 24 goals and 16 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona before his season ended. He has also scored six goals in 25 senior caps for Spain since debuting at 16. Despite his age, he remains one of the key attacking threats in de la Fuente's squad. Forward Yeremy Pino said the squad embraces the favourites tag ahead of the tournament. Spain head into the World Cup as one of the favourites after winning the European Championship two years ago.