Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz have been ruled out of Spain’s travelling group for the final warmup match before the World Cup, as the team manages recovery plans ahead of the tournament. Spain will face Peru at Cuauhtémoc Stadium in Puebla on Monday, one week before opening Group H against Cabo Verde in Atlanta.
The three players will stay at Spain’s base camp in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where they will continue their injury recovery work. Coach Luis de la Fuente has said Yamal is expected to be “ready to play” in Spain’s first World Cup match, although he also warned that his role could be limited to “just a few minutes.”
Spain manage fitness before the tournament begins
The decision to leave out Yamal and Williams reflects a cautious approach as Spain prepares for a busy start to the competition. Both players joined an open training session in Chattanooga on Saturday after Spain arrived there on Friday, and they also spent time signing autographs for supporters.
Yamal’s situation has attracted the most attention because of the timing of his hamstring injury. The Barcelona winger picked up the problem while scoring a penalty against Barcelona on April 22, and his recovery has remained a key issue for Spain’s staff.
A limited return remains possible
De la Fuente’s comments suggest Spain still expects Yamal to be available for the opening match, but the staff do not want to take unnecessary risks. That would mean the winger could start the tournament on a controlled workload if medical and fitness checks continue to go well.
Spain’s schedule after the opener leaves little room for error, with matches against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta on June 21 and Uruguay in Guadalajara on June 26. That makes the status of Yamal and Williams especially important, since both players are part of the wider plan for Spain’s Group H campaign.
Peru will provide Spain with a final match test before the tournament starts, but the main focus remains on protecting key players. For now, Yamal, Williams and Muñoz will stay in Chattanooga as Spain balances preparation with recovery ahead of the World Cup.
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