Winger will sit out Peru friendly alongside Nico Williams and Victor Munoz but is in contention for Spain’s group opener
Lamine Yamal is expected to be available for Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde on 15 June, according to head coach Luis de la Fuente, despite earlier concerns that a hamstring injury would rule him out of the start of the tournament.
The Barcelona forward has not travelled with the squad for Tuesday’s friendly against Peru in Mexico and remains at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, alongside Nico Williams and Víctor Munoz as they continue their recovery from injury.
De la Fuente said all three players were progressing as planned and should be available for selection for Spain’s first Group B fixture, although he stopped short of confirming whether any would be fit enough to start.
“If there are no setbacks in the coming days, we expect them to be available on the 15th,” De la Fuente said. “I think all three will be in a position to play.”
Asked whether Yamal, Williams and Munoz could start against Cape Verde, De la Fuente said: “All three are within the expected timelines to arrive in good condition for 15 June. The most important thing is that those timelines are being met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and available to be selected at some point in the match.”
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Yamal has not played since suffering a hamstring injury in his left leg during Barcelona’s La Liga victory over Celta Vigo on 22 April. The 18-year-old had been expected to miss Spain’s tournament opener and target a return for the second group game against Saudi Arabia on 21 June.
Spain’s hopes of a successful World Cup campaign are closely tied to the fitness of Yamal and Williams, who were central figures in their Euro 2024 triumph. Munoz is an emergent star now highly rated in La Liga and can play a big role in Spain’s campaign.
Yamal finished the 2025-26 season with 24 goals and 16 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions as Barcelona retained the La Liga title. Williams missed the closing stages of Athletic Club’s season with a hamstring problem, while Munoz earned his first senior international cap in March after a breakthrough campaign with Osasuna.
