Lamine Yamal is not feeling 100% fit and is not likely to start for Spain in the match against Saudi Arabia on Sunday at the World Cup.
Yamal came into the tournament nursing a left hamstring injury and was only a substitute in the team's opener on Monday — a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde.
“I’m fine, I feel good, but it’s still too soon,” Yamal told Spanish network RTVE. "It’s unnecessary (to take risks). I’m going through an adaptation process, it’s not the time to play a full match yet. But I can play as many minutes as the coach wants.”
The 18-year-old Yamal came off the bench in the 71st minute against Cape Verde but was not able to spark La Roja to victory against the nation of about half-million people that was making its debut at soccer's showcase event.
After facing Saudi Arabia on Sunday in Atlanta, Spain goes to Guadalajara to play Uruguay in the highlight match of Group H. The match may be decisive and having Yamal fully fit could be crucial for Spain.
Yamal said teammate Nico Williams, who also arrived nursing an injury, was ahead of him in the recovery process.
“Physically he’s even better than me,” Yamal said. "We’re not in a rush. We have a great team with top-level players and we have to go step by step.”
Yamal arrived at the World Cup as one of the tournament's biggest stars despite his young age. He has been thriving with Barcelona and Spain's national team for a while, having helped La Roja win the European Championship in 2024. He led Barcelona to the Spanish league title this past season.
His popularity in the United States has been evident at the World Cup. An advertisement with his image towers over Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, where Spain kicked off its campaign.
“I'm taking it naturally, it's something I'm used to,” Yamal said about his popularity. "I know what I represent both outside of Spain and in Spain. I try to always give my best, that’s what the fans want. If you have your image on that building, it’s because you can do things on the field that people like, things that excite them when they see you play.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
Spain's Lamine Yamal (19) kicks against Cape Verde's Joao Paulo (8) during the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman)
Spain's Lamine Yamal , left, is challenged by Cape Verde's Willy Semedo during the World Cup Group H soccer match in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
Spain's Lamine Yamal controls the ball during the World Cup Group H soccer match against Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Colin Hubbard)
SEATTLE (AP) — U.S. star Christian Pulisic will miss Friday's World Cup match against Australia because of a calf injury and was replaced in the starting lineup by Ricardo Pepi.
United States coach Mauricio Pochettino made the announcement during an interview with Fox about 90 minutes before the kickoff at Lumen Field in Seattle. On Thursday, Pochettino said Pulisic is in a “much better” spot than he was last Friday, and that he would be available for the Americans' next game against Turkey if he could not play against Australia.
“Today, he was training in the morning in the camp and I’ve seen the feelings are good,” Pochettino told Fox on Friday. “I hope as soon as possible he can be ready to be selected again and to be part of the team. Now, we need to be focused on our team and the players that are going to play."
The move is a setback for a U.S. team that defeated Paraguay 4-1 in its opener on June 12 and with a win would clinch advancement to the round of 32.
Pulisic left the game at halftime after helping create the opening goal by splitting a pair of defenders before passing to Weston McKennie, then setting up Folarin Balogun for the second goal.
Pochettino said the 27-year-old attacker was kicked in the back of his left calf during a training session ahead of the game and felt tightness during the match. Pulisic trained on his own in the leadup to the game against Australia.
Pulisic has 33 goals in 87 international appearances.
Pepi was the only addition to the U.S. starting lineup. Pochettino decided to insert the 23-year-old striker, who was one of the final cuts from the 2022 World Cup roster, over a few other accomplished players.
Brenden Aaronson, a winger who had four goals and five assists for Leeds last season, and Tim Weah, a Marseille forward who can impact a game with his speed on either wing, both remain on the bench.
Gio Reyna, who scored the Americans’ final goal against Paraguay and has provided moments of dynamic playmaking from the wing, will be a reserve once again.
With Pepi in for Pulisic, the U.S. hopes to reward its supporters and justify the wave of momentum that is building around the team.
“What excites me is that the entire world, the entire nation is behind us,” midfielder Cristian Roldan said. “I think that they enjoyed watching us play, and at the end of the day what we want to do is inspire and motivate the next generation. ... We have to build off it, and that’s the truth. We can’t just talk about it: We have to show out against Australia.”
AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup
United States' Christian Pulisic celebrates after an own goal by Paraguay's Damian Bobadilla during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) during the World Cup Group D soccer match in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
United States' Christian Pulisic (10) runs with the ball during the World Cup Group D soccer match between the United States and Paraguay in Inglewood, Calif., near Los Angeles, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)
