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Spain have eased concerns over 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 training session in New Jersey.Pictures of Yamal working out individually while wearing what appeared to be a bandage on his left thigh quickly circulated online, fueling speculation about his availability for the biggest game of the Spanish tournament. However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and head coach Luis de la Fuente played down fears of any major injury.
Spain insists there are no major concerns
According to the RFEF, both Yamal and right-back Pedro Porro have been following individual training programs as part of a planned load management schedule and not because of any serious physical problem.“Both players are expected to be available for Sunday’s match,” the federation said, adding that the separate session was purely a precautionary measure as preparations for the World Cup finals continued.MARCA also reported that Spain remain confident that both players will be ready to face the defending champions.Porro has been struggling with muscle strain after taking a knock during Spain’s 2-0 semi-final win over France, and De la Fuente confirmed after that game that the defender had been struggling with muscle discomfort.Yamal’s situation seems less worrisome.“He’s got nothing,” De la Fuente said after the win over France, dismissing suggestions the Barcelona winger had suffered a significant injury despite several tough challenges during the semi-final.
Managing a busy tournament
Spain’s cautious approach reflects Yamal’s workload during the tournament.The 19-year-old arrived at the World Cup still building up his fitness after recovering from the hamstring problem that disrupted the final stages of Barcelona’s season. This was one of the reasons why he started Spain’s first group stage match against Cape Verde on the bench before gradually working his way back into a regular starting role.Although Yamal scored once during the tournament, hitting the net against Saudi Arabia, much of his impact extended beyond the statistics.
Spain’s Lamine Yamal (19) reacts after a foul during the World Cup semifinal soccer match between France and Spain in Arlington, Texas, near Dallas, Tuesday, July 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Opponents have consistently deployed extra defenders to limit his impact, and the wing regularly faces double teams and heavy physical attention. France adopted a similar approach in the semi-final, where full-backs Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez challenged him repeatedly throughout the contest.
Last chances await
Spain go into Sunday’s showdown in search of a fourth World Cup title after defeating France 2-0, a result that extended their unbeaten run to 37 games in all competitions and made them the first European nation to win eight consecutive knockout games at major international tournaments. Against Argentina, he will now aim to extend those records even further to 38 matches without defeat and nine consecutive knockout victories.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 forward will have the chance to cap off another outstanding year by helping Spain win the World Cup while facing Lionel Messi and reigning champions in what promises to be the biggest game of his career so far.For now, Spain’s message remains consistent: Yamal’s individual training was preventive, and expectations within the camp are that both he and Porro will be ready when the World Cup finals begin on Sunday.
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