Yamal to Begin on the Bench for 2026 World Cup Match Against Cape Verde – La Fuente

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has confirmed that 18‑year‑old Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will not start the 2026 World Cup match against Cape Verde.

Although Yamal has fully recovered from a hamstring injury, the manager will manage his involvement from the bench.

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Yamal has been sidelined since sustaining a left hamstring strain on April 22. De la Fuente is opting for a cautious approach to avoid a relapse.

“The best news is that Lamine is in great shape, he has prepared very well and is training very well, just like Nico (Williams) and Víctor (Muñoz). He is available, even if he won’t start the match, we’ll see how the game unfolds,” said De la Fuente.

“He is ready to play today without any problem. Not for 90 minutes, but to come on at some point, he is in perfect condition to play a few minutes. If that weren’t the case, he wouldn’t even be on the bench,” he added.

De la Fuente also acknowledged that Spain is seen as a tournament favourite, but he stressed that they are not the sole or obvious favourite.

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He said there are roughly eight to ten genuine title contenders, including France, Argentina and England.

“What does that mean in sports? It puts you among the potential contenders, but only one can win… I value it because it pays tribute to the exceptional journey of some players. I had never seen a World Cup with so many real contenders to win it,” he added, while still claiming that La Roja has the “best midfield in the world.”