Lamine Yamal Benched for Spain's World Cup Opener

Lamine Yamal, an 18-year-old player for FC Barcelona, started on the bench for Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Cape Verde on Monday. Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, decided to take a cautious approach with Yamal's workload, despite earlier assurances that he was fit to play.

This decision came after Yamal had recently recovered from an injury. Social media reactions reflected a mix of support for the decision, with some users noting the importance of managing the young player's fitness over the long tournament.

Spain entered the tournament as favorites, following their success in Euro 2024, and faced Cape Verde, who were making their World Cup debut. The match took place at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, with expectations high for Spain's performance, even without Yamal in the starting lineup.

His potential impact from the bench could be crucial as Spain aims to progress smoothly through the group stage.