Spain winger Lamine Yamal says he is progressing well in his recovery from a hamstring injury but does not believe he is ready to start as La Roja prepare to face Saudi Arabia in their second Group H match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Spain will meet Saudi Arabia on Sunday at Atlanta Stadium, seeking another positive result as it continues its World Cup campaign in the United States.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente had indicated before Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde that Yamal had recovered sufficiently to return to action. However, the Barcelona teenager was introduced cautiously, replacing Gavi in the 71st minute rather than starting the match.
The limited appearance reflected Spain’s careful approach to managing one of its most influential young players after his recent injury layoff.
Speaking ahead of the Saudi Arabia match, Yamal said he feels physically well but acknowledged that returning to the starting lineup would come too soon.
“I feel good and healthy, but it’s still too early,” Yamal told RTVE, as quoted by the Toronto Star.
The 18-year-old said he has no intention of rushing his recovery and risking another setback, even though he remains ready to contribute whenever called upon by De la Fuente.
“There is no need to take risks. I’m still adapting, and it’s not yet the time to play a full match. But I can play for as long as the coach wants,” Yamal said.
Yamal added that fellow winger Nico Williams has progressed further in his recovery and is currently in better physical condition.
“Physically, he’s even better than I am,” Yamal said. “We’re not rushing anything. We have a great team with top players, and we need to take things one step at a time.”
De la Fuente also outlined his plans for managing Yamal’s workload, emphasizing that the winger’s impact could be even greater if used strategically during the latter stages of matches.
“Matches are often decided in the second half, so we’ll consider whether it’s more beneficial to increase the tempo early or use Lamine when the opposition is tiring and the final minutes become decisive. That’s where we’ll make our decision,” De la Fuente said, as quoted by Barca Blaugranes.
The Spain coach stressed that Yamal is not yet capable of completing a full 90 minutes and insisted the team’s medical staff would not allow unnecessary risks.
“Lamine isn’t ready for 90 minutes, but he’s available to play. We don’t take risks with anyone. His optimal performance is around one hour, whether that’s 53 or 60 minutes. We’ll see,” De la Fuente said.
He added that tactical decisions can change quickly once a match begins.
“There are 50,000 details during a game that can force you to change your plans,” he said.
Spain hopes Yamal’s gradual return will strengthen its attacking options as it pursues qualification for the knockout stage, while the coaching staff continues to balance the teenager’s long-term fitness with the immediate demands of the World Cup.
