Lamine Yamal to miss World Cup start

Spain's World Cup preparations have been dealt a major blow with news that star winger Lamine Yamal is expected to miss the start of the tournament.

The 18-year-old Barcelona phenom sustained a metatarsal fracture during a recent La Liga match, with initial medical assessments indicating a recovery period of at least six weeks.

Yamal has been a central figure in Spain's tactical plans and was widely expected to be one of the breakout stars of the 2026 event.

The injury forces coach Luis de la Fuente to reconsider his offensive strategy just weeks before the team's opening fixture.