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Spain’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, has provided an update on the condition of his young star, Lamine Yamal, as the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches.

Yamal is currently recovering from a hamstring injury that has ruled him out of Spain’s upcoming friendly match against Iraq scheduled for early Friday morning, June 5, 2026.

Despite the setback, De la Fuente remains confident that the Barcelona winger will be fit in time for Spain’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup.

Spain is set to face Cape Verde in their first Group H fixture on June 15 in Atlanta, United States.

“Lamine will not feature in the warm-up match against Iraq, but if nothing changes, he should be ready to play on June 15,” De la Fuente told ESPN.

However, the 64-year-old coach remains cautious and has not guaranteed that Yamal will start immediately.

“That doesn’t mean he will definitely play. We’ll see later. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just training to be in better shape for the second game. We must continue to monitor his progress,” De la Fuente added.

Yamal sustained a left hamstring injury while playing for Barcelona in a La Liga match against Celta Vigo on April 23.

The injury initially caused concern as the 18-year-old risked missing his first-ever World Cup appearance with the Spanish national team.

Although he will miss the Iraq fixture, Yamal’s recovery progress has reportedly gone according to plan.

De la Fuente explained that the Spanish Football Federation has been working closely with Barcelona regarding the player’s rehabilitation programme.

“We are in perfect coordination with the club. We’re continuing with the plan established some time ago, and the good news is that the players are improving every day,” said De la Fuente.

Earlier, Yamal himself expressed optimism that he would recover in time to contribute significantly to Spain’s campaign to win their first World Cup title since 2010.

In addition to Yamal, Nico Williams is also recovering from a hamstring issue and is expected to be ready when Spain begins its World Cup journey.

Yamal’s presence is considered crucial for the Spanish squad.

The young talent, who shone during Euro 2024, is expected to be one of the key players for La Furia Roja as they aim for their second World Cup title in history.

In the 2026 World Cup, Spain will compete in Group H along with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay.

Former PSPS Striker Backs Spain to Win the Title

Former PSPS Pekanbaru player, Muhammad Isnaini, has tipped Spain to win the 2026 World Cup.

He predicts that Spain and the Netherlands will meet in the final, with La Furia Roja emerging as champions.

According to Isnaini, who now serves as the Director of Competition for PSSI Riau, it is time for Spain to reclaim the World Cup trophy in this four-year tournament.

“Spain has young players who have been forged through intense league competition. Most of them play in La Liga,” said Muhammad Isnaini, as quoted by Tribun Pekanbaru.

The former PSPS Pekanbaru striker also believes that Spain’s young talents, such as Yamal, will stand out in the 2026 World Cup.

“With their young talents and the tactical expertise of coach Luis de la Fuente, Spain will rise as a strong team capable of winning the World Cup,” Isnaini concluded.

(Tribunnews.com/Hafidh Rizky Pratama) (TribunPekanbaru.com/Budi Rahmat)