Yamal shares his worries about missing the World Cup

Spain's forward Lamine Yamal looked on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Group E qualification match between Turkey and Spain at Konya Buyuksehir Belediye Stadium, in Konya, on September 7, 2025. (Photo by Ozan KOSE / AFP)

Spanish national team star Lamine Yamal said on Sunday that he was "afraid" of missing the World Cup because of a hamstring injury he is still healing from.

The 18-year-old got the injury while scoring a penalty for Barcelona against Celta Vigo on April 22.

"Internally, I was praying it was nothing, that it was just cramp or something like that, because the World Cup was very close and I knew that a hamstring injury is never a short-term thing," the winger told the Spanish football federation’s media outlet.

"I was afraid it might be serious and, above all, that even if it wasn’t serious, I could suffer a setback and end up missing the World Cup."

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente hopes Yamal will be ready for La Roja’s first game at the World Cup against Cape Verde on June 15.

On Sunday, Yamal warmed up with his teammates in Spain’s first training session before hitting the gym.

"It’s also true that it helps knowing you’re going to play a World Cup, so mentally it’s like you haven’t played a single game all season, and I’m really eager to make my debut (at the tournament)," he added.

Yamal, who was a key player when Spain won Euro 2024 in Germany, said the World Cup is the "biggest thing" in football and he has dreamt "a thousand times" about lifting the trophy.

If Yamal does not play in the first match, he is expected to feature against Saudi Arabia in the second match on June 21, and Uruguay on June 27 in the other Group H games.