Spain are adopting a cautious stance regarding Lamine Yamal’s recovery, with Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) technical director Aitor Karanka assuring that the national team will not hurry the Barcelona prodigy back into action. With only five days left before La Roja’s World Cup opener, questions have arisen about the teenager’s fitness after a spell on the sidelines.

Close coordination between RFEF and Barcelona

The dynamic between the Spanish federation and Barcelona has at times been tense during international breaks, but Karanka quickly dismissed any speculation of disagreement. Speaking from the team’s training base at the Baylor School, he emphasised that both sides are maintaining continuous communication about Yamal’s rehabilitation. The young forward is recovering from a hamstring injury in his left leg, sustained in late April during a La Liga clash against Celta Vigo.

“We will decide when it’s the right moment for him to come back,” Karanka told reporters. “My relationship with Bojan and [sporting director] Deco, even though we didn’t play together, has been excellent from the start. Transparency is key. We’ve been in touch with Barcelona’s medical staff, and together we’re assessing the best time for his return.”

No confirmed timeline for Yamal’s comeback

Spain begin their World Cup journey in Group H, where they will face Cape Verde, Uruguay, and Saudi Arabia, starting their campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June. Amid this build-up, speculation has mounted about Yamal’s potential return date. Some reports suggested there was an understanding for him to feature specifically in the third group-stage match, but Karanka refused to commit to any fixed timetable. The primary goal, he stressed, is a careful reintegration process that safeguards the youngster’s long-term fitness rather than targeting a particular match.

Praising Yamal’s influence both on and off the pitch, Karanka remarked, “He has this natural joy outside the pitch. He radiates positivity, and on the field, he brings freshness and quality that can define an era.”

Addressing injury concerns within the squad

Determined to deliver a strong campaign and move past the disappointments of previous World Cups—where Spain exited in the group stage in 2014 and suffered round-of-16 eliminations in both 2018 and 2022 after their 2010 triumph—La Roja are leaving nothing to chance regarding player fitness. Apart from Yamal, Luis de la Fuente’s team is also monitoring the conditions of Nico Williams and Victor Munoz closely. Karanka stated that final decisions about their participation will be made collaboratively between the coaching staff and the medical team, ensuring no player’s recovery is compromised early in the tournament.

“It’s one of the team’s strengths—the coordination between the medical and coaching staff,” Karanka said. “Luis has the final say alongside the doctors. The recovery process is going very well for all three, and it will be Luis, together with the doctors, who determines the right moment for each of them. It’s their time to decide.”

Spain’s position as World Cup contenders

After clinching victory at the European Championship, Spain enter the World Cup as one of the favourites to lift the trophy. However, Karanka prefers to view this status as a motivating opportunity rather than a burden, acknowledging the federation’s consistent efforts over the years.

“Winning isn’t an obligation—it’s a shared dream we all have. This reflects the excellent work the Federation has been doing for many years,” he explained. “We take that expectation naturally. Being called favourites means we’ve done something right, but we’re aware that there are other strong teams capable of winning the World Cup as well.”