Barcelona star Lamine Yamal will miss Spain's opening match at the 2026 World Cup, and there are serious doubts about his availability for the second game as well, according to the British newspaper The Athletic.
She added that the young winger is still recovering from a hamstring injury he suffered during Barcelona's victory over Celta Vigo in the Spanish league last month.
Current predictions indicate that Yamal will not be ready for Spain's opening group stage match against Cape Verde on June 15, and his participation against Saudi Arabia on June 21 is still uncertain.
The Spanish Football Federation is in constant contact with Barcelona to monitor the player's rehabilitation program, with members of the national team's medical staff regularly traveling to Catalonia to monitor his progress in coordination with the club's doctors.
The Spanish champions had previously announced that Yamal would be out for the remainder of the season after experiencing pain in his hamstring, with the club adopting what it described as a "conservative treatment plan" to avoid any setback.
Yamal is one of the most dangerous attacking players, whether with Barcelona or the Spanish national team. Therefore, his absence, even for part of the group stage, will clearly affect the team's attacking strength and creativity.
Hamstring injuries are also very sensitive, especially for a player who relies on speed and frequent sprints like Yamal, and any rush in his return could lead to the injury worsening and his absence for a longer period.
After facing Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, "La Roja" will conclude the group stage with a match against Uruguay, and so far there are no guarantees regarding Yamal's readiness for that match.