Spain Prepares for Friendly in Mexico Ahead of World Cup Without Lamine Yamal and Two Other Key Players

The Spain National Team arrived in Puebla to face Peru in its final friendly before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The squad led by Luis de la Fuente will be without Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz, who are still recovering from muscle injuries.

The Spain National Team has arrived in Mexico for its final preparation match before the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The side coached by Luis de la Fuente landed in Puebla on Sunday, where it will face Peru in a friendly that will serve as the team's last test before the tournament begins.

Spain traveled from Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it established its World Cup training base during the final phase of preparations. Upon arriving in Mexico, the delegation headed to its hotel before participating in media activities at Estadio Cuauhtémoc.

Injury Concerns Continue for Spain

The biggest concern for the Spanish coaching staff remains the status of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz. All three players stayed in the United States to continue their recovery programs and did not travel with the squad to Mexico.

Soccer Football - FIFA World Cup 2026 - Spain Training - Baylor School, Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. - June 6, 2026 Spain's Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams during training IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/Brett Davis

None of them featured in Spain's 1-1 draw against Iraq earlier this week, nor were they able to fully participate in training sessions before the trip. While the expectation remains that they will be available for the World Cup, the federation has chosen not to rush their return in order to avoid setbacks.

Their absences force Luis de la Fuente to explore alternative options as Spain looks to arrive at the tournament in peak condition.

Peru Provides Final World Cup Tune-Up

The friendly against Peru represents Spain's final opportunity to make tactical adjustments and fine-tune its game plan before opening its World Cup campaign. It will also allow several players to strengthen their case for a more prominent role during the tournament.

Todos los campeones en la historia del Mundial

FIFA World Cup

The group that never produced a champion

Spain will begin its World Cup journey on June 15 against Cape Verde in Atlanta. The European powerhouse will then face additional challenges in the group stage, including a highly anticipated clash with Uruguay on June 26 in Guadalajara.

With a talented roster and ambitions of competing for the title, Spain enters the final stage of preparation knowing that every match matters. Meanwhile, the recovery of Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Víctor Muñoz will remain one of the team's biggest storylines in the days leading up to the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.