Where is Lamine Yamal? Why Spain star is not playing World Cup opener vs. Cape Verde

Lamine Yamal headed into the 2026 World Cup aiming to emulate some greats of the game.

The 18-year-old Barcelona star was sensational as Spain won Euro 2024 and he will now hope to join Pele and Kylian Mbappe in winning the World Cup as a teenager.

However, Lamine's bid for glory began as a substitute in La Roja's Group H opener against Cape Verde.

Here's all you need to know about why one of the best players in the world is on the bench.

LIVE: Spain vs. Cape Verde at the 2026 World Cup

Why isn't Lamine Yamal playing for Spain?

Lamine Yamal's absence from the Spain first XI is related to a hamstring injury he suffered on club duty.

He was forced off injured near the end of the first half in Barcelona's 1-0 win over Celta Vigo on April 22. He scored a 39th-minute penalty and immediately held his finger up to signal to the bench that he had injured himself, proceeding to lie on his back as he was treated by medical staff at Camp Nou.

A day later, Barca confirmed that the winger had sustained an injury to the biceps femoris of his left leg. In the club statement, Barcelona acknowledged Lamine would miss the rest of their triumphant La Liga season, but added it was expected he would be ready for the World Cup.

Lamine sat out Spain's pre-World Cup friendlies against Iraq and Peru after a report by The Athletic on May 18 said he would miss the World Cup opener against Cape Verde and was a "major doubt" to face Saudi Arabia in Spain's second group game on Sunday, June 21.

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When will Lamine Yamal play at the World Cup?

There is a chance that Lamine Yamal takes to the field against Cape Verde, although his place among the substitutes is not as significant as it might at first seem.

At the World Cup, teams can name all 15 members of their squad as substitutes. It's not as if Lamine — or fellow wingers Nico Williams and Victor Munoz, who are also nursing muscular injuries – is taking a spot away from a fit substitute by being there.

There is optimism that he will be able to play a fuller part against Saudi Arabia if needed after head coach Luis de la Fuente told his pre-match press conference for the Cape Verde game that Lamine was in "perfect condition". That soundbite has been mischievously amplified, but it came with a caveat.

"He is not in a position to play the full 90 minutes, but he can participate if we feel it's needed," the Spain boss said.

The expanded tournament format and the enviable strength in depth that the Spain squad boasts mean that De La Fuente can ultimately afford to be careful with his prized asset.

All expectations are for Spain to secure wins over Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia to book a spot in the knockout stages with a game to spare. They face Uruguay in their final Group H match in Guadalajara on June 27, before a slate of up to five knockout stage games if all goes to plan.

There is plenty of time for Lamine Yamal to make his anticipated mark on this World Cup.