Lamine Yamal Set to Miss Spain’s World Cup Opener After Hamstring Blow

Spain's World Cup ambitions have suffered a major blow as teenage superstar Lamine Yamal is officially ruled out of the team’s opening match against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15.

The 18-year-old Barcelona winger sustained a severe hamstring tear during a La Liga clash against Celta Vigo in late April, cutting his club season short. While Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente still plans to include the 2025 Ballon d'Or runner-up in his final 26-man squad—to be officially announced on Monday, May 25—the medical staff has adopted a zero-risk approach.

According to medical updates, Yamal will miss the Group H opener and remains a major doubt for the second match against Saudi Arabia on June 21. Team doctors are targeting the final group blockbuster against Uruguay on June 26 for his tournament debut, ensuring he is fully fit for the knockout stages.

Yamal's delayed start exacerbates Spain's growing injury crisis, following Barcelona teammate Fermín López’s recent foot fracture that completely ruled him out of the tournament. Villarreal's Yeremy Pino is heavily tipped to fill the void on the right wing as La Roja adjusts its frontline for the historic 48-team tournament.