Lamine Yamal sustained a hamstring tear on April 22 in a match against Celta Vigo, a setback that has interrupted his preparation for the 2026 World Cup. With Spain’s opening game approaching, Barcelona has outlined a phased approach for his involvement in the tournament.
The injury left Yamal sidelined from competitive play, though his World Cup prospects remain intact. To monitor recovery, Barcelona’s external physiotherapist, Fernando Galán, visits every Monday to assess progress.
Sources indicate Yamal could return to action for Spain’s opener on June 15 against Cape Verde, completing a six‑week rehabilitation window.
Barcelona’s Planned Gradual Inclusion of Yamal in the World Cup
Even with medical clearance, Barcelona advocates a gradual reintroduction. Final decisions rest with Spain’s coaching staff, but the club hopes Yamal’s playing time will increase progressively throughout the group stage.
Lamine Yamal of Spain controls the ball while under pressure from Ahmed Fatouh of Egypt.
Barcelona’s projected playtime for Yamal is approximately 15 minutes against Cape Verde, about 60 minutes against Saudi Arabia, and a full 90 minutes against Uruguay in the final group match.
Yamal continues rehabilitation with the medical staff and will not feature in Spain’s final pre‑tournament friendly against Peru in Mexico, remaining at the team base in Tennessee to complete recovery.
With Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz sidelined, coach Luis de la Fuente remains optimistic that all three players could be ready for the opening match. “All three are within the timeframe to be able to arrive in good condition to play on the 15th; we don’t know the exact minutes, but Lamine’s injury was different from Nico’s and Victor’s. Each one has their own process and duration, but the most important thing is that within the parameters we have, they can be met for the 15th,” he said after arriving in Puebla.
