Lamine Yamal injury: Luis de la Fuente provides vital updates ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup

Spain have received a big boost ahead of the World Cup, with coach Luis de la Fuente expressing confidence that teenage star Lamine Yamal will be fit for the team’s opening game against Cape Verde on June 15.Yamal, who injured his left hamstring playing for Barcelona in April, will not feature in Spain’s friendly against Iraq. However, the coaching staff remains optimistic about his recovery and availability for the start of the tournament in Atlanta. De la Fuente said the 18-year-old is progressing well and could be ready in time for Spain’s first World Cup game.“If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15,” De la Fuente said. “It doesn’t mean he will play for sure, we’ll see. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just training so he can improve his fitness for the second game. We’ll have to evaluate.”Yamal recently admitted he was worried he would miss the World Cup after the injury and was relieved to see his recovery progressing in the right direction. The Barcelona youngster is expected to be one of Spain’s key players as the team look to challenge for the title.Spain will also be without Nic Williams and Víctor Muñoz for the friendly as they continue to recover from injuries. The players who were deployed in the recent Champions League final also rested.The Spanish side will play one more warm-up game against Peru in Mexico before the World Cup. De la Fuente did not reveal which players will appear in that game.Spain open their Group H campaign against Cape Verde before facing Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in their remaining group stage matches. The 2010 world champions have not progressed beyond the last 16 since lifting the trophy and will be hoping to change that record this summer.“We’re all excited to get started and try to do well in the tournament,” De la Fuente said.