Lamine Yamal’s breakaway training session raises World Cup fears as Spain issues update/Image: X
Spain moved to ease concerns surrounding Lamine Yamal’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina after the teenage star trained separately from the main squad during the team’s first session in New Jersey.Pictures of Yamal working alone while wearing what appeared to be a bandage on his left thigh quickly spread online, sparking speculation about his readiness to participate in the biggest match in the Spanish championship. However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and coach Luis de la Fuente played down fears of any serious injury.
Spain insists there is no major concern
According to the Spanish Football Federation, both Yamal and right-back Pedro Porro followed individual training programs as part of a planned workload management schedule and not due to any serious physical issue.“The two players are expected to be ready for Sunday’s match,” the federation said, adding that the separate training was a precautionary measure as preparations for the World Cup final continue.
Marca also reported that Spain remains confident that both players will be ready to face the defending champions.Boro suffers from increased muscle mass after suffering a bruise during Spain’s 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals, as De La Fuente confirmed after that match that the defender was suffering from muscle pain.
Yamal’s situation seems less alarming.“He doesn’t have anything,” De La Fuente said after the victory over France, rejecting speculation that the Barcelona winger had suffered a serious injury despite receiving several strong challenges during the semi-finals.
Manage a busy tournament
Spain’s cautious approach reflects the amount of work Yamal has to endure throughout the tournament.The 19-year-old arrived at the World Cup still building his fitness after recovering from the hamstring problem that disrupted the latter stages of Barcelona’s season.
This was one of the reasons why he started Spain’s opening group stage match against Cape Verde on the bench before gradually returning to his starting role.Although Yamal scored once during the tournament, finding the back of the net against Saudi Arabia, his impact extended beyond statistics.
Spaniard Lamine Yamal, 19, reacts after a foul during the FIFA World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Opponents have constantly committed extra defenders to limit his impact, with the winger regularly facing double teams and heavy physical attention.
France adopted a similar approach in the semi-final, challenging full-backs Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez repeatedly throughout the match.
The final opportunity awaits
Spain heads into Sunday’s clash seeking a fourth World Cup title after beating France 2-0, a result that extended their unbeaten run to 37 matches in all competitions and made them the first European nation to win eight consecutive knockout matches in major international tournaments.
Against Argentina, the team will now look to take those records to 38 matches unbeaten and nine straight wins in the knockout stages.Yamal is expected to remain a central figure in Luis de la Fuente’s plans if he is declared fully fit.Should he feature against Argentina, the Barcelona striker will have the opportunity to cap off another fantastic year by helping Spain lift the World Cup while facing off against Lionel Messi and the current champions in what promises to be the biggest match of his career to date.For now, Spain’s message remains consistent: Yamal’s individual training session was precautionary, and the expectation within the camp is that he and Boro will be ready when the World Cup final kicks off on Sunday.