Yamal fit to start on the bench for Spain’s FIFA World Cup opener against Cape Verde

Spanish winger Lamine Yamal is fit and ready to come off the bench in his side’s opening World Cup match, but manager Luis de la Fuente said on Sunday his participation will depend on how the Group H clash with Cape Verde progresses.

Yamal has not played since April as the 18-year-old struggled with groin problems and a hamstring injury. He missed Spain’s recent friendlies, but his coach is not concerned about his fitness, and the situation is the same for Nico Williams and Victor Munoz.

“The good news is that Lamine is very fit,” De la Fuente told reporters.

«He is following the established process and is in good shape. He is training very well, just like his other colleagues who had some kind of injury. They are all available and cannot play from the start of the match.»

“We will have to wait and see how the game progresses, and then we will make a decision on how they can contribute to the team.

“It’s a matter of logic, of how the game evolves, of the game situation.”

SPAIN AMONG FAVORITES

Spain, European champions and World Cup winners in 2010, go into the tournament as one of the strong favorites to lift the trophy, but De la Fuente will not take Cape Verde for granted on his World Cup debut.

“If you haven’t seen them play yet, you will tomorrow,” he said.

«Tactically, they are a very well-structured team and they develop those tactical concepts very well. Their players are very physically powerful. They are very fast and they have eliminated Cameroon.»

«They could be one of the teams that spring a surprise at this World Cup and tomorrow’s match will require us to do our best and it will certainly be a battle even if we win. The crowd, everyone will find out what they can do tomorrow.»

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are the other teams in the group and meet in Miami on Monday.

Published on June 15, 2026