Lamine Yamal to Miss World Cup Qualifiers Due to Injury

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal will miss Spain’s World Cup qualifiers against Georgia and Turkey as he continues to manage an ongoing groin issue.

Yamal, 18, was called up to the national team last week but underwent a minor procedure in Barcelona on Monday, a development that was not communicated to the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) in advance.

The RFEF stated they were “surprised” by FC Barcelona’s failure to inform them of Yamal’s condition but acknowledged that he requires 7-10 days of rest. Consequently, they have permitted him to return to Barcelona.

“The RFEF’s medical services express their surprise and concern upon learning at 1:47 p.m. on Monday, November 10—the day the national team’s training camp officially began—that Yamal had undergone an invasive radiofrequency procedure to treat his pubic discomfort earlier that morning,” the RFEF said in a statement.

“This procedure was carried out without prior notification to the national team’s medical staff, who only received detailed information at 10:40 p.m. on Monday, indicating a medical recommendation for rest lasting 7-10 days. Given this situation, and prioritizing the player’s health, safety, and well-being, the RFEF has decided to release the player from the current squad.”

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente later expressed astonishment at how Barcelona managed the situation.

“There are procedures that occur outside the RFEF—that’s just the way it is, and we must accept it,” he told RNE.

“However, I’ve never experienced a situation like this before. I find it unusual. Naturally, I was surprised, as were others. You don’t receive any notifications, you lack details, and I must emphasize that when it concerns health and fitness… it leaves you astonished.”

This incident marks another chapter in the ongoing tension between club and country, which began in September when Yamal initially returned from international duty with this injury.

At that time, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick accused the Spanish national team of not adequately safeguarding their players, leading to a brief exchange with La Roja coach De La Fuente, who dismissed Flick’s concerns.

Yamal missed four matches for Barcelona but returned for games against Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain at the end of September. However, he subsequently sat out the loss to Sevilla in October and missed both Spain games in the last international break.

Yamal has since started the last six matches for Barcelona in all competitions, scoring four goals and providing three assists, yet Flick has repeatedly stressed that the groin issue continues to affect him.

“We must be vigilant regarding his condition,” Flick emphasized on Saturday. “He has improved his discipline significantly. He is training well, both on the field and in the gym, and is receiving daily treatments. This level of care is essential for his recovery.

“I believe he is returning to his best form, but the injury is not fully resolved, so we must continue to monitor him closely, along with the national team.”

In Yamal’s absence, Rayo Vallecano forward Jorge de Frutos has been called up as Spain aims to secure a place in next summer’s World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Spain can guarantee their spot in the finals with four points from their games against Georgia and Turkey, although they could qualify with fewer points if Turkey does not secure a victory over Bulgaria.

Meanwhile, Yamal is expected to return for a demanding series of matches with Barcelona following the international break, beginning with a home fixture against Athletic Club in La Liga and a trip to Chelsea in the Champions League.