Spain’s national football team coach, Luis de la Fuente, confirmed on Sunday that Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is fit to play but will start on the bench for Monday’s match against Cape Verde. This game marks the beginning of Spain’s qualifying campaign for the 2026 World Cup. De la Fuente stated that Yamal is in “excellent condition” during a pre-match press conference. While fully recovered, the coach opted not to include the young player in the starting lineup for this initial match. The decision appears to be a strategic one, potentially managing Yamal’s workload or assessing team dynamics. This is Spain’s first competitive fixture since the World Cup, and the coach is likely evaluating player form and tactical options.