Star forward Yamal missed the pre-tournament friendly with a groin injury but was expected to be ready.
Published June 8, 2026
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Victor Muñoz are expected to be available for Spain’s opening World Cup match against Cape Verde on June 15.
Yamal, 18, is dealing with a groin issue and a hamstring injury sustained in April, while Williams and Munoz are also recovering from injuries.
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The trio remained at Spain’s training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on Sunday to continue their rehabilitation, rather than traveling with the team for Monday’s final warm-up game against Peru.
“If there are no issues in the next few days, we expect it to be available on the 15th,” de la Fuente told reporters.
“I think all three are in a position to play.”
When asked if his players were ready to start against Cape Verde, de la Fuente was more cautious.
“All three vehicles are on schedule to arrive in good condition on June 15,” he said.
“The most important thing is that those timelines have been met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and selected at some point in the game.”
Spain will play Peru in Puebla before heading to Atlanta for the World Cup opener, but de la Fuente said he would not take his opponent lightly.
“For us, this is a very important game,” said the Spaniard. “We are not approaching this game as just a warm-up game.”
The Spaniard will head into the World Cup as a favorite after winning Euro 2024.
Forward Yeremy Pino said Spain is open to expectations.
“The favorite tag is normal,” Pino said. “We’ve had a very good year and I’m proud of that.
“Pressure shouldn’t make us play worse. Pressure should make us grow and play better.”
