Lamine Yamal Fit for Spain’s World Cup Opener vs Cape Verde

Yamal cleared for Spain vs Cape Verde, De la Fuente confirms

Lamine Yamal is fit and available off the bench for Spain’s World Cup opener vs Cape Verde. Luis de la Fuente says his return depends on the Group H match.

Lamine Yamal ready to return as Spain face Cape Verde in World Cup opener...

Spain’s Lamine Yamal is available off the bench for Sunday’s World Cup opener, but Luis de la Fuente said his role will depend on how the Group H game vs Cape Verde unfolds.

The 18-year-old winger hasn’t played since April due to groin and hamstring problems and missed Spain’s recent friendlies. De la Fuente isn’t worried about his fitness though, and said Nico Williams and Victor Munoz are in the same situation.

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

“He's ⁠following the set process, ‌and he's in good shape, he's training very well, just like his other colleagues who had some sort of injury. They're all available, and 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.

“It's a matter of logic, of how the game is evolving, the game situation.”

Spain won Euro 2024 and the World Cup in 2010, so they’re among the favorites to take it all again. But De la Fuente says he won’t underestimate Cape Verde, who are making their World Cup debut.

“If you haven't watched them play yet, you'll see tomorrow,” he said.

“Tactically they are a very well-structured team and they develop those tactical concepts very well. Their players are very powerful from a physical point of view. They're very ‌fast and they knocked out Cameroon.

“They might be one of the teams springing a surprise in this World Cup ‌and the match tomorrow will require us to perform to our best and it will be a struggle for sure, even if we win. The public, everyone will discover tomorrow what they can do.”

🎙️ “Lamine está en perfectas condiciones, entrenando muy bien como el resto de los compañeros que han tenido algún inconveniente”.

➡️ “Os adelanto que todos los jugadores están disponibles para el debut”.

🗣️ Luis de la Fuente, seleccionador.#VamosEspaña | #CopaMundialFIFA pic.twitter.com/0WSlNJ6orE

— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) June 14, 2026

Saudi Arabia and Uruguay are also in Group H, and they face off in Miami on Monday.

The 2026 World Cup runs June 11 to July 19 across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. It’s the first 48-team tournament, with games set for 16 modern stadiums.