- May 18, 2026
Lamine Yamal To Miss Spain’s FIFA World Cup Opener: Report
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Lamine Yamal all set to miss Spain’s FIFA World Cup opener vs Cape Verde with a hamstring injury, major doubt for Saudi Arabia clash as recovery continues.
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal going for a bicycle kick (AP)
Star Spain and Barcelona right-winger Lamine Yamal is all set to miss his country’s FIFA World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15, according to a report in The Athletic, as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Yamal, 18, is expected to miss Spain’s group-stage opener against Cape Verde on June 15 and remains a major doubt for their second game against Saudi Arabia on June 21, as per the report.
According to the report, the Spanish Football Association has remained in constant contact with Barcelona and Yamal, with members of its medical team visiting the club to monitor the youngster’s recovery progress.
Yamal picked up the injury during April’s La Liga win over Celta Vigo, ruling him out for the rest of Barcelona’s season as he focuses on regaining fitness in time for this summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Barcelona said at the time that Yamal would ‘follow a conservative treatment plan’, while club officials also met with the RFEF on Friday to discuss a rehab programme for his return.
Spain’s final FIFA World Cup group-stage game is against Uruguay on June 26. Yamal featured in 45 games across all competitions during his third full campaign with Barcelona’s senior team, helping the club retain the La Liga title while contributing 24 goals and 16 assists despite battling pubalgia during the first half of the season.
Yamal is expected to be one of the standout footballers at this summer’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Since making his senior debut for Spain at the age of 16, he has scored six goals in 25 appearances and was instrumental in the nation’s win at the 2024 European Championship.
Spain will play two friendlies ahead of the FIFA World Cup, starting with a clash against Iraq in Coruna on June 4. They will then travel to Puebla, Mexico, to take on Peru on June 8.
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