Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams cleared to play off bench for Spain's World Cup opener against Cape Verde
Teen star Lamine Yamal has been declared fit for Spain's opening World Cup match against Cape Verde, but coach Luis de la Fuente says he and Nico Williams will only feature as substitutes.
Injury recovery
Yamal has not played since April 22, when he sustained a hamstring injury during Barcelona's La Liga match against Celta Vigo. He missed the final weeks of the season for Barcelona and Spain's pre-tournament friendlies against Iraq and Peru. Williams also missed the end of his domestic campaign with a hamstring issue and followed a similar recovery process. De la Fuente stressed that the medical staffs of both Barcelona and the national team cleared Yamal.
Lamine is in perfect condition. He makes it to the first game in the physical condition we expected him to. He has trained excellently and we have all players available.
- Hamstring injury sustained during Barcelona's La Liga match vs Celta Vigo
- Coach Luis de la Fuente declares Yamal fit to play in World Cup opener
- Available as substitute for Spain vs Cape Verde
Limited role for the stars
Neither Yamal nor Williams will start the match, but both are available from the bench. De la Fuente said their participation depends on how the game unfolds. "He is not in a position to play the full 90 minutes, but he can participate if we feel it's needed," the coach said.
They're all available, but they won't be able to play from the start of the match. We'll have to wait and see how the game progresses, and then we'll make a decision on how they can contribute to the team.
Yamal's meteoric rise
Yamal, who turned 18 last year, is already a European champion with Spain and a two-time La Liga winner with Barcelona. In the 2025-26 season, he recorded 24 goals and 18 assists for the Catalan club. His popularity in the United States is visible: a giant advertisement with his image towers over Atlanta Stadium, and fans gathered outside Spain's training session copying his trademark blonde curls.
- Goals
- 24
- Assists
- 18
Group H opener
Spain enters the tournament as co-favorite with France, seeking its second World Cup title after 2010. Cape Verde is making its World Cup debut after eliminating Cameroon in qualifying. De la Fuente warned against underestimating the island nation, calling them "a very well-structured team" with physical power and speed. The other group match, Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay, kicks off in Miami later on Monday.
