World's Best Teen Player Expected To Be Ready For World Cup Opener After Injury

Spain is expecting teen phenom Lamine Yamal to be available for the June 15 World Cup opener against Cape Verde in Atlanta.

The 18-year-old midfielder missed the end of Barcelona’s season with a left hamstring strain, and the injury will keep him idle for Monday’s final tune-up friendly against Peru in Puebla, Mexico.

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Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente said he was hopeful that Yamal and forwards Nico Williams and Victor Munoz will be available for the Group H opener, but did not speculate on their availability to start.

“If there are no setbacks in the coming days, we expect them to be available on the 15th,” De la Fuente said, according to Reuters. “I think all three will be in a position to play.”

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“All three are within the expected timelines to arrive in good condition for June 15,” he added. “The most important thing is that those timelines are being met and will continue to be met, so they can be with us and available to be selected at some point in the match.”

Yamal was runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting for the best player in the world. He also helped Spain win the Euro 2024 title after turning 17 during the tournament.

He has six goals in 25 career appearances for the Spanish national team, which enters the tournament ranked No. 2 in the world behind defending World Cup champion Argentina.

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