Yamal, Williams and Munoz Set to Be Fit for Spain’s World Cup Opener vs Cape Verde
Luis de la Fuente has given Spain fans some good news ahead of the World Cup. The head coach confirmed on Monday that Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, and Victor Munoz are all progressing well from their respective injuries and should be available for the squad’s opening Group A fixture against Cape Verde on June 15.
It’s the update Spain needed. With the tournament beginning in a matter of days, having three of their most influential players fit — even with a slight degree of uncertainty — changes the picture considerably.
Yamal Stays Back to Recover While Squad Faces Peru
Yamal has been dealing with groin and hamstring trouble that kept the 18-year-old out of Spain’s final warm-up match against Peru. He stayed at the team’s training base in Chattanooga, Tennessee, along with Williams and Munoz, working through a structured rehab programme while the rest of the squad travelled.
None of that, according to De la Fuente, is cause for alarm. The coaching staff say all three players are hitting their recovery targets on schedule.
De la Fuente: ‘No Major Setbacks’ in Recovery Process
Speaking to reporters, the Spain manager said there had been no significant complications and that all three are expected to be available for selection against Cape Verde. He stopped short of naming them in the starting eleven — unsurprisingly — but the language was as positive as you’d get at this stage of a tournament build-up.
Medical staff are managing the players carefully, he said. The priority is arriving at the first whistle in full fitness, not risking anything in a friendly.
Peru Friendly Treated as Serious Rehearsal Before Atlanta Opener
Spain take on Peru in their last pre-tournament match before heading to Atlanta. De la Fuente pushed back on the idea of treating it as a throwaway game — the squad, he said, needs real match rhythm heading into June 15, and the coaching staff wants to use Peru to sharpen that.
Euro 2024 Winners Arrive at World Cup as Genuine Contenders
Spain enter this tournament off the back of winning Euro 2024, which puts them squarely in the conversation among the favourites. The squad mixes seasoned internationals with some of the most exciting young talent in world football right now — Yamal being the obvious example.
Yeremy Pino, speaking earlier this week, acknowledged the weight of expectation but said the dressing room isn’t running from it. After what they achieved at the Euros, the players want to go further.
Spain vs Cape Verde: What to Watch on June 15
Cape Verde are no pushover — they’ve been one of Africa’s more consistent sides in recent years — but Spain will go in as clear favourites. The real question heading into the match is whether Yamal lines up from the start.
If the recovery continues as planned, De la Fuente could have a near full-strength squad to choose from. That’s about as good a position as any manager could hope to be in eight days out from a World Cup opener.
