Spain national team head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed his surprise at the decision to exclude forward Lamine Yamal from the squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
I’ve never experienced a situation like this before. I don’t think it’s very normal. Of course, it surprised me, like everyone else. You have no prior knowledge, you don’t know any details, and I insist, with health issues... you’re left surprised.
It was previously reported that Yamal underwent an invasive radiofrequency procedure the day before to treat pubic discomfort, leading to the decision to remove him from the squad. As a result, Lamine will miss the qualifier against Georgia.
Yamal has played for Spain since 2023. With the national team, he won Euro 2024 and earned a silver medal in the 2024-25 UEFA Nations League. In the 2025-26 season, he has appeared in eight La Liga matches for Barcelona, scoring four goals and providing four assists.
Spain’s match against Georgia will take place on November 15 at 20:00 GMT+3. Spain leads Group E in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers with 12 points. Georgia sits third with three points.
