Lamine Yamar separated from Spain squad ahead of World Cup final as federation releases latest fitness information Football News
Spain have moved to ease concerns over Lamine Yamar’s fitness ahead of Sunday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup final against Argentina after the teenage star trained separately from the home team in New Jersey’s first training session.Photos of Yamal working alone with what appeared to be a bandage on his left thigh quickly circulated online, sparking speculation about his availability for the biggest game of the World Cup in Spain. However, both 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 problems
According to the Spanish Football Federation, both Yamal and right back Pedro Polo are following individual training plans as part of a planned workload management plan and not because of any serious physical issues.“Both players are expected to be available for Sunday’s match,” the federation said, adding that separate training was purely a precautionary measure as preparations for the World Cup final continued.Marca also reported that Spain remains confident that both players will be fit enough to face the defending champions.Polo has been dealing with muscle overload after suffering an injury during Spain’s 2-0 semi-final win over France, with De La Fuente confirming after that game that the defender had been dealing with muscle discomfort.The situation in Yamal seems less worrying.“He has nothing,” De La Fuente said after the win over France, dismissing suggestions that the Barcelona winger was seriously injured despite facing several serious challenges in the semi-finals.
Manage a busy tournament
Spain’s cautious approach reflects Yamal’s workload throughout the tournament.The 19-year-old arrived at the World Cup still recovering from a hamstring problem that disrupted the final stages of Barcelona’s season. This was one of the reasons why he started as a substitute in Spain’s first group match against Cape Verde before gradually returning to a regular starting role.Although Yamal scored a goal against Saudi Arabia during the World Cup, his impact goes beyond statistics.
Spain’s Lamine Yamar (19) reacts after a foul during the World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, near Dallas, Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Opponents kept bringing in extra defenders to limit his impact, and the winger often faced double teams and plenty of physical attention. France followed a similar approach in the semi-finals, with full-backs Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez challenging him multiple times throughout the game.
The last chance awaits
Spain beat France 2-0 to reach Sunday’s World Cup final in search of a fourth World Cup title, a result that extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 37 games and made them the first European nation to win eight consecutive matches in the knockout stages of a major international tournament. Against Argentina, they will aim to push those records further to 38 games unbeaten and nine knockout matches in a row.If Yamal fully recovers, he is expected to remain a central figure in Luis de la Fuente’s plans.If he features against Argentina, the Barcelona striker will have the chance to help Spain lift the World Cup against Argentina, capping off another remarkable year. Lionel Messi and the defending champion in what promises to be the biggest fight of his career to date.For now, the message from Spain remains consistent: Yamal’s individual training is precautionary and the expectation within the training camp is that both he and Polo will be ready when the World Cup final begins on Sunday.
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