Lamine Yamal Is 'No Doubt' Ready For Cape Verde and the World Cup Noticed

Holy smokes, Seattle! You hear the news coming out of the World Cup camp? Luis de la Fuente, the Spain coach, just dropped an absolute bombshell about their 18-year-old superstar, Lamine Yamal. Remember that torn left hamstring he snagged back in April? The one that had us all holding our breath that he'd miss part of the World Cup group stage? Well, scratch that. De la Fuente says Yamal could be ready to roll for their first match against Cape Verde on June 15. Talk about a comeback for the ages!

From La Liga Scare to World Cup Stage

Man, it felt like just yesterday we were watching the highlights, seeing Yamal go down during that Barcelona match against Celta Vigo on April 22. A torn left hamstring, seriously? It was brutal. That injury instantly benched him for the rest of Barcelona's La Liga season, and let's be real, everyone was mentally preparing for a World Cup without one of the most exciting young talents on the planet, at least for the early games. Missing the group stage? That would've been a gut punch, no doubt.

But de la Fuente, bless his heart, never lost faith. He included Yamal on Spain's 26-man roster back on May 25, which gave us a glimmer of hope. And now, the coach is saying he has "no doubt" our guy will be available. That's the kind of confidence that fires you up, right? It's like seeing our own Sounders dig deep when everyone else counted them out. This kid, who finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, isn't just a player, he's a phenomenon, and the world stage absolutely needs him.

What 'Ready' Actually Means For Kickoff

Okay, so he's "available," but what does that *really* mean for the Cape Verde game on June 15? De la Fuente was pretty straightforward about it on Wednesday. He said, "If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15." Now, he did temper expectations a bit, adding, "It doesn't mean that for sure he will play, we'll see. Maybe a few minutes, maybe just practice so he can improve his condition for the second match. We will have to evaluate." So, no full 90 minutes right off the bat, probably, but just having him on the pitch, even for a cameo, is massive. He won't be playing in Thursday's friendly against Iraq, which is smart, and fellow injured players Nico Williams and Víctor Muñoz are also sitting that one out. Spain's got another friendly against Peru in Mexico on Monday before they head to their training camp in Chattanooga, Tenn. Every minute of recovery counts.

So, get hyped, Emerald City! Spain kicks off their World Cup journey against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15. After that, they face Saudi Arabia on June 21, also in Atlanta, before heading to Guadalajara to take on Uruguay on June 26. To have an 18-year-old who helped Spain win the Euro 2024 title after turning 17 during the tournament, and who already boasts six goals in 25 career appearances for his national team, back in contention for the opener? That's the kind of high-octane drama we live for. Let's go!

DFS Pick'em

🏆 Underdog Fantasy: Play $5, Get $50 in Bonus Entries

Use code ONTAP to lock in this offer.

👉 Claim your $50 bonus on Underdog Fantasy

Sponsored. Must be 18+. Terms apply.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.