Yamal, Nico on track for Spain's World Cup opener

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente remains optimistic that forwards Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will be fit for their World Cup opener despite both players missing the end of the club season with hamstring injuries.

The European champions begin their Group H campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15, and De la Fuente said the pair were progressing well under a rehabilitation programme coordinated with their clubs.

"We are perfectly coordinated with the clubs, we are giving them continuation in a programme that was established some time ago and the truth is that the players are improving every day," De la Fuente said ahead of Thursday's friendly against Iraq.

Neither Yamal nor Williams will feature in the warm-up match in A Coruna, but De la Fuente insisted their recoveries remain on track.

"If everything continues as it has been so far, he could be ready on June 15, but that doesn't guarantee that he will play," the coach said of Yamal.

Spain's hopes of lifting the World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States may hinge significantly on the fitness of the 18-year-old Barcelona star, who has emerged as one of the game's brightest talents.

Yamal burst onto the international scene as a 16-year-old and played a pivotal role in Spain's Euro 2024 triumph, becoming the tournament's youngest-ever scorer with a stunning strike against France in the semifinals before Spain defeated England in the final.

His rise continued at club level, helping Barcelona win a LaLiga-Copa del Rey double in 2024-25 and finishing runner-up to PSG’s Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d'Or voting – the youngest player ever to do so.

Although injuries disrupted his latest campaign, Yamal still helped Barcelona retain the league title, finished as the club's top scorer with 16 goals and 11 assists, and became the first player to win LaLiga's Player of the Month award three times in a season before a serious hamstring injury in April halted his momentum.

Williams, another key figure in Spain's attack, has similarly struggled with groin and hamstring issues, leaving Spain anxiously waiting to see whether their dynamic flanks will be operational. De la Fuente faces other selection headaches, too; midfielder Mikel Merino and Barca's Fermin Lopez have both been sidelined with foot fractures.

Yet, Spain's great strength under De la Fuente has been continuity through disruption. Since taking over in 2023, the coach has built a "red machine" that boasts style with steel, rattling through 33 matches with 28 wins, three draws, and just two defeats.

Drawn alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H, Spain will face Saudi Arabia on June 21 in Atlanta before concluding the group stage against Uruguay in Guadalajara on June 27.