FIFA World Cup 2026: Will Lamine Yamal play against Cabo Verde today? The Spain coach brings a big update

Spanish Lamine Yamal. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart) Lamine Yamal, who has been out of the professional game with a hamstring injury, is expected to start Spain’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Cabo Verde, but the teenage sensation will start the match on the bench.Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente confirmed ahead of Monday’s Group H match that the 18-year-old Barcelona star has fully recovered from the hamstring injury that ruled him out during the closing stages of Barcelona’s club season. However, Spain plans to carefully manage his workload when he returns to competitive action.“We are following the indications of the medical staff from Barcelona and the Spanish national team along with the fitness coaches. Everything indicates that Lamine Yamal is ready to play tomorrow,” De la Fuente said during his pre-match press conference.“We don’t know how many minutes he will play. It will depend on the development of the match and the game situation, but he is in ideal condition to play,” he added. Yamal isn’t the only key player released back into action. Spain also opted to keep Nic Williams and Victor Muñoz on the bench despite both being fully fit, with the coaching staff taking a cautious approach ahead of the long tournament.

A historic opportunity for Cabo Verde

While Spain go into the match as overwhelming favourites, this occasion holds huge significance for their opponents. Cabo Verde will play their first ever FIFA World Cup match when they take on the reigning European champions at the Atlanta Stadium on Monday.The Group H encounter marks the first senior international meeting between the two nations and marks a historic milestone for the African island nation, one of the smallest countries by population to ever qualify for the World Cup.For Spain, the tournament offers an opportunity to reaffirm its position among the world’s football elite. The 2026 edition will be La Roja’s 17th appearance at the FIFA World Cup, and they will arrive in North America among the leading contenders for the title after winning UEFA Euro 2024.