Will Lamine Yamal Play for Spain vs Saudi Arabia at the World Cup?
Lamine Yamal'sWorld Cup debut might not have had the perfect start after Spain managed only a goalless draw against Cabo Verde in their opening Group H match.
The Barcelona star, still recovering from a hamstring injury, featured for only 20 minutes but still managed to create a few chances.
Now, La Roja face Saudi Arabia in their second match and desperately need a win to avoid unnecessary pressure before the knockout stages.
Spain are among the favorites to win the World Cup, and anything other than a win today will undoubtedly raise a lot of questions about their performance.
Is Lamine Yamal Playing in Spain's Game Against Saudi Arabia?
The 18-year-old is expected to feature against Saudi Arabia today, but how long he plays is a decision Luis de la Fuente will have to make.
Speaking to the media, Yamal confirmed on Friday that he was looking forward to the match but wasn't entirely sure how long he would be on the pitch.
"I feel really good. I'm excited above all, I've been off the field for a long time. I'm looking forward to Sunday. I feel good physically, I'm ready for whatever the boss wants. I know that doesn't mean I'm going to play, but I'm ready," he said.
The Barcelona forward also confirmed that the Saudi Arabia game was too early for him to play the full 90 minutes.
"It's very early, it's unnecessary [to play 90 minutes], I have a process of adaptation, it isn't the moment to play a full game but I'll play the minutes the boss wants."
After the draw in their opening match, de la Fuente also noted Yamal's importance, pointing to the immediate impact the teenager had after coming on as a substitute.
"As soon as Lamine came on, he changed how [Cabo Verde] were playing," De la Fuente said afterward. "It was the amount of time we thought he could play. We're sure in the next game the team will do better."
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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 9:13 AM.