Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has said he is planning around wide attackers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams being fully available for the World Cup, which begins next month in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Fitness hopes for key wide men
De la Fuente’s confidence comes as Yamal and Williams face recent fitness concerns, alongside another Spain midfielder missing time.
- Lamine Yamal, 18, has been sidelined by a hamstring problem picked up in late April.
- The injury has kept him out for the remainder of the campaign with Barcelona.
- Despite the absence, Barcelona have indicated that Yamal is expected to be ready for the tournament’s start in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- Nico Williams of Athletic Bilbao suffered a muscle injury on Sunday.
- Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino remains unavailable after breaking his right foot three months ago.
De la Fuente on squad readiness and injury pressure
Speaking to journalists, the Spain coach said he believes the players currently being discussed will be fit in time for the World Cup.
- De la Fuente stated he expects those mentioned to be available for the start of the tournament.
- He added he also believes they will be ready for Spain’s opening match.
He then clarified the timeline should any issues arise, saying that if availability does not extend to the opener, the players in question would still be in contention for a later group game—either the second or third fixture—without creating “major setbacks.”
De la Fuente also described the broader impact of injuries, calling this period especially demanding.
- He said the year has been “very tough” due to injury problems.
- He described injury-related setbacks as the “tragedy of sport” and noted they generate significant pressure in the lead-up to a major tournament.
- He warned that after this point, even small muscular injuries are particularly difficult to recover from.
World Cup squad size and warm-up plans
De la Fuente confirmed details of Spain’s tournament preparation, including how the squad will be handled for the build-up matches.
- He said his World Cup squad list will include 26 players.
- He added that additional players will be brought in for a friendly against Iraq on June 4.
Spain’s group and opening match date
Spain’s first World Cup game is scheduled for June 15, when they face Cape Verde in Atlanta.
The team’s group also includes Uruguay and Saudi Arabia.
