27 June 2026

The prospects for Nico Williams at the 2026 World Cup have turned grim after the Spanish Football Federation confirmed that the winger has sustained a moderate muscle injury in his right adductor. The setback occurred following a rough challenge during Spain’s clash with Uruguay, forcing the Athletic Club player to break his silence through an emotional message shared on his Instagram account.

The Athletic Club forward, who has long battled pubalgia—a condition that has troubled him for months—expressed his frustration about the incident that took him off the field in Guadalajara. He specifically pointed to Uruguay’s Nicolás de la Cruz as the player involved in the challenge.

“Today is one of the worst days of my life. Yesterday I suffered a new injury after an incident in which a fellow professional acted out of frustration, dissatisfaction, and sadness. It was a play that could have been avoided because it was completely unnecessary,” Williams said candidly.

Although the medical report indicates that the injury is of moderate severity and does not entirely rule him out for the rest of the tournament, his chances of returning before the end of the World Cup appear slim. Despite his disappointment, Williams vowed to keep fighting, determined to find joy again on the football field.

📸 CARL DE SOUZA - AFP