Lamine Yamal injury update issued ahead of Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde as Barcelona star pushes to be fit - ‘He’s doing good’
Published 01/06/2026 at 13:35 GMT+1
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Luis de la Fuente has given an injury update on Lamine Yamal ahead of Spain’s opening World Cup match.
‘He would not leave the pitch without a reason’ – Flick gives update on Yamal injury
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Yamal injured his hamstring playing for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on April 22, and went on to miss the final six matches of the La Liga season.
There were fears that Yamal’s World Cup place could be at risk as a result, but he was selected by De la Fuente, and those fears were eased when Spain's manager said he believed his star attacker would be fully fit for the start of the tournament.
And, in an interview with Spanish outlet Mundo Deportivo, De La Fuente gave Spanish fans further good news.
He said: "Lamine’s recovery is proceeding very well. He will be ready for the World Cup, should be fit for the opening game. He’s doing good."
Yamal previously spoke of his fears when suffering the injury that it could rule him out of his first World Cup.
The 18-year-old dazzled at the 2024 Euros, guiding his team to glory as he celebrated his 17th birthday, being named in the Team of the Tournament and picking up Young Player of the Tournament.
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In an interview with the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Yamal said: "I never had a hamstring injury like that, but I knew that it wasn't going to be a short recovery time
"I was afraid that it was something serious, or that it could relapse and that I would miss the World Cup.
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"I remember the play in which I got injured.
"I was praying inside for it not to be serious, for it to be a cramp or something like that, because I knew the World Cup was very close."
With the start of the World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico now just 10 days away, excitement is beginning to build around the world ahead of the biggest-ever World Cup.
That, of course, includes the players, and especially those who are heading to their first World Cup, like Yamal.
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Yamal and Spain power into Euro 2024 final following a 2-1 victory over France
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He leads the frontline of a Spain team who are favourites for the tournament, according to bookmakers, following their success at the Euros two years ago.
And his excitement is palpable, adding that the Spanish players have had an eye on the tournament from the moment of their 2-1 win over England.
"The moment has finally arrived," Yamal said.
"I think that ever since the European Championship ended, we've all been thinking about this day, and we are all very excited.
"We will go into the tournament as the European champions, and we are going to give it everything we have to win it."
Spain open up their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15 in Atlanta, before they face Saudi Arabia on June 21 in the same stadium and Uruguay on June 27 in Zapopan.
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