Fermín López ruled out of Spain’s 2026 World Cup squad: What injury does the Barcelona midfielder have?
The Barcelona star suffered a serious foot injury against Betis that requires surgery, ending his hopes of making the tournament.
Bad news has hit Fermín López at a crucial stage of the season. Medical tests conducted Tuesday morning confirmed the Barcelona midfielder has suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. The injury will require surgery, with an estimated recovery time of around two months, officially ruling him out of World Cup 2026.
Injury confirmed after Betis match setback
López did not return for the second half against Real Betis after feeling discomfort in his right foot. Initial examinations suggested a minor fissure that could have kept him out for around two weeks, leaving open a slim possibility of a call-up from Spain manager Luis de la Fuente.
However, an MRI scan confirmed the worst fears, revealing a full fracture of the little toe metatarsal in his right foot.
Surgery ahead as Spain plans change
The club will confirm in the coming hours which specialist will perform the operation and when it will take place. While the exact timeline for surgery is still being finalized, the impact is already clear.
Fermín is now definitively ruled out of the World Cup, a major blow for both the player and Spain, with de la Fuente having viewed him as an important tactical option for the tournament.
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