Luis de la Fuente Eases Spain Fears Over Lamine Yamal Before World Cup Opener
Luis de la Fuente has given Spain fans the kind of Lamine Yamal update they were waiting for. The Spain national team enters the FIFA World Cup as one of the favorites, but Yamal's fitness has been a major talking point after his recent injury setback.
While his place in the squad is secure, there were still doubts over whether he would be ready for the opening game. De la Fuente has now eased some of those concerns, suggesting that if his recovery continues as planned, the Barcelona star could be available from the start against Cape Verde.
In a recent press conference, de la Fuente provided an update on Yamal saying, "If everything continues as it is now, he could arrive to start on the 15th."
Luis de la Fuente, sobre el estado físico de Lamine Yamal de cara al Mundial:
— Mundo Deportivo (@mundodeportivo) June 3, 2026
"Si sigue todo como va hasta ahora, podría llegar para empezar el día 15" pic.twitter.com/84bC8iXPEg
Beyond Lamine's recovery and status for the tournament. de la Fuente's squad selection raised some eyebrows before the focus shifted back to Yamal.
One of the biggest surprises was the lack of any Real Madrid players in the final group. Dean Huijsen and Dani Carvajal both missed out, while Robin Le Normand and the injured Fermín López were also left off the list. De la Fuente pushed back on any suggestion of club bias, saying his decisions were based only on what he felt the squad needed.
The group still has plenty of star power. Rodri, Pedri, Gavi, Fabián Ruiz, Martín Zubimendi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Nico Williams, and Yéremy Pino give Spain a strong mix of control, creativity, and attacking options.
There is also a clear generational shift happening. De la Fuente praised veterans like Carvajal and Álvaro Morata for the legacy they have left behind, but he also made it clear that the next wave is ready to take responsibility.
Before the tournament begins, Spain will play warm-up matches against Iraq and Peru, giving the coaching staff one final chance to test combinations and manage player fitness.
After winning Euro 2024, Spain will not arrive quietly. This is a squad with expectations, depth, and enough quality to make a serious run.
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This story was originally published June 3, 2026 at 7:53 AM.