When will Lamine Yamal play at the World Cup? Barcelona sets strict return conditions

Barcelona is closely tracking the progress of its Spanish internationals at the World Cup, with particular attention focused on Lamine Yamal. The teenage forward joined Spain’s national team on May 30 while still recovering from a left hamstring injury suffered April 22 after converting a penalty against Celta Vigo at Camp Nou.

The Catalan club even has an inside source within Spain’s camp, ensuring it receives regular updates on Yamal’s recovery.

That source is Fernando Galán, an external Barcelona physiotherapist who also works with Spain’s medical staff. Galán has effectively taken over from Pablo Merino, the physio who had been overseeing Yamal’s rehabilitation at Barcelona’s training complex. Even before joining the national team setup, Galán had been closely monitoring the youngster’s recovery, meeting with him every Monday.

Barcelona approves Yamal’s return

AS has learned that Barcelona has given the green light for Yamal to return for Spain’s World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15, though with several important conditions attached.

Club officials believe that, barring any setbacks, the expected six-week recovery period will have been completed by then, allowing him to receive full medical clearance. However, Barcelona is recommending a cautious approach to his comeback.

The expectation is that Yamal will not start against Cape Verde. In the most optimistic scenario, he would make a late substitute appearance and play roughly the final 15 minutes.

Spain managing his workload carefully

If Yamal responds well and experiences no issues, he could see his minutes increase significantly in Spain’s second group-stage match against Saudi Arabia six days later.

Under that plan, he could play between 45 and 60 minutes before potentially returning to the starting lineup for Spain’s final group-stage game against Uruguay on June 27, when he would be expected to play a full match.

Barcelona monitoring all of its World Cup players

Yamal is not the only Barcelona player receiving special attention during the tournament.

The club is monitoring all of its international players throughout the World Cup, maintaining daily contact and receiving weekly reports on each player’s physical condition and overall situation.

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that of this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.