The biggest surprise in Spain's lineup

The Spain national team opened its 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign against Cape Verde, but one of the biggest talking points was the absence of Lamine Yamal from the starting eleven.

The Barcelona sensation arrived at the tournament as one of La Roja's most important attacking weapons, and many expected him to feature from the opening whistle in Spain's World Cup debut.

That is why questions immediately surfaced when the official lineup was announced, especially considering that the young winger had been training normally in the days leading up to the match.

The injury that changed the plan

The reason behind the decision is linked to Yamal's ongoing recovery process.

The teenager is still completing the final stages of rehabilitation from the hamstring injury he suffered on April 22 during Barcelona's match against Celta Vigo.

Since that setback, Yamal has not played a single official match as he focused entirely on recovering in time for the World Cup. While his progress has been encouraging, Spain's coaching staff has decided to take a cautious approach in the team's opening match of the tournament.

Luis de la Fuente explained the situation

Ahead of the game, Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente addressed concerns regarding Yamal's physical condition.

"He's in good shape and has arrived exactly when we wanted him to. He's doing very well, just like the other players who have dealt with injuries. Everyone is available, but the three of them (Víctor Muñoz, Nico Williams, and him) will not start. We'll see how the match develops," De la Fuente explained.

The Spanish manager later revealed that both the national team's medical staff and Barcelona's doctors agreed that the player is fit enough to compete, but not yet ready for a full match.

"We've followed the recommendations from Barcelona's medical staff and our own. They believe he can play without any issues. He's not ready for 90 minutes, but he can certainly play for a period of time. He's in perfect condition to get some minutes, and everyone agrees with that decision."

Spain is thinking beyond the opener

Everything points to Lamine Yamal seeing action during the second half if the flow of the match allows it.

Spain's priority is to protect one of the brightest young talents in world football and avoid taking unnecessary risks during the first game of the tournament.

With a demanding group stage ahead and ambitions of making a deep run at the World Cup, the coaching staff believes carefully managing the youngster's workload is the best course of action.

For now, the decision has been made: Lamine Yamal will begin on the bench. However, Spanish fans will be hoping to see him on the pitch sooner rather than later as La Roja begins its quest for World Cup glory.

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