Lamine Yamal to miss Spain World Cup opener against Cape Verde amid injury setback

Lamine Yamal is expected to miss Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury, dealing a significant early setback to the Spain national football team’s tournament plans.

The FC Barcelona winger has been unavailable since sustaining the problem while scoring against Celta Vigo in La Liga in April, an incident that abruptly ended his domestic season and raised early concerns over his fitness heading into a major international summer.

Lamine Yamal’s injury occurred during Barcelona’s 1-0 La Liga victory over Celta Vigo, when he converted a penalty before immediately pulling up in visible discomfort and requiring medical attention.

He was later withdrawn from the contest, with medical staff confirming a left hamstring injury the following day, ruling him out of the final six league fixtures of Barcelona’s season.

Recovery updates suggest the 18-year-old is unlikely to feature in Spain’s opening group match on June 15, with sources indicating a cautious rehabilitation plan being followed jointly by FC Barcelona and the Spanish Football Association.

Officials from the Royal Spanish Football Federation have maintained contact with Barcelona’s medical department, including regular visits to Catalonia to assess his progress and determine a realistic return timeline.

Both clubs are aligned on prioritising a full recovery, with no definitive return date set as the medical teams continue to evaluate his response to treatment on a day-to-day basis.

Doubts now surround Yamal’s participation in Spain’s second group fixture against Saudi Arabia on June 21, with his availability for the final group game against Uruguay also uncertain.

Spain are monitoring the situation closely as they aim to ensure the winger is not rushed back too quickly, given his importance to their long-term tournament ambitions.

There is also internal concern that rushing him back could risk aggravating the injury, potentially affecting both his long-term fitness and Spain’s tactical options during the tournament.

Lamine Yamal’s 2025/26 campaign with FC Barcelona was marked by both productivity and physical setbacks, as he remained central to their La Liga title success under Hansi Flick.

He featured in 45 matches across all competitions, scoring 24 goals and providing 16 assists despite missing several early-season fixtures due to a groin issue and later hamstring concerns.

His contributions were particularly influential during the decisive stages of the title race, with the youngster often deployed in key attacking roles despite intermittent fitness concerns that required careful management from the Barcelona medical department and coaching staff throughout the campaign.

Earlier in the campaign, the teenager also battled recurring groin issues that led to friction between FC Barcelona and Spain over player management during international breaks.

He later suffered another setback shortly after being named in Spain’s squad for October internationals, prompting concern within the club about his workload.

FC Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick expressed frustration at the situation, stating: “Maybe when we talk about taking care of young players, it’s things like that. I’m very sad about this.”

Despite the uncertainty, Spain remain among the leading contenders for the World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Yamal expected to play a decisive role later in the tournament if he regains full fitness.

The 18-year-old was a standout performer at Euro 2024, where he earned the Young Player of the Tournament award and helped Spain secure continental glory. His progress will be closely tracked ahead of the knockout stage closely monitored.