LAMINE YAMAL has Barcelona’s blessing to play at the World Cup – but only under a strict set of rules.
The LaLiga champions are worried about their 18-year-old star player being overused just weeks after tearing his hamstring.
Lamine Yamal has been given the green light to play in the World Cup group stage Credit: Reuters
Yamal tore his hamstring against Celta Vigo on April 22 Credit: AFP
Yamal was forced off against Celta Vigo on April 22 and has not played since.
His six-week recovery timeline will have been served by the time tackle in their Group H opener on June 15.
But Barca bosses are insistent that Yamal is not thrust straight back into the action.
According to AS , Barcelona have recommended a cautious approach to reintegrating Yamal, which could see his minutes limited in the group stage.
They want the wide man to play no more than 15 minutes against Cape Verde.
And if that goes smoothly, they would like to see him given between 45 and 60 minutes against six days later.
The shackles should then come off against on June 27, providing no fresh issues have popped up.
Spain are among the World Cup favourites and Yamal is their principal attacking threat, having helped them win the Euros two years ago.
New World Cup 2026 rules
FIFA confirmed several new rules coming into play for the World Cup 2026.
They are:
- Outfield players cannot go to technical areas while goalkeeper getting treatment
- Five-second countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins
- Ten-second substitutions – or else one-minute sub entry delay
- One minute off field after outfield players get treatment
- Three-minute hydration breaks in each half
- VAR can intervene over fouls before ball in play for goals, penalties and disciplinary sanctions
- VAR can correct wrongly-awarded yellow cards and corners
- Red cards for covering mouth in confrontational talk
- Red cards for walking off pitch in protest
The teenager has scored six goals in 25 appearances for his country and arrives at the tournament off the back of his best goal-scoring season at club level with 24 in all competitions.
Barca are relying on inside source Fernando Galan to keep them informed on Yamal during the tournament.
Galan does physiotherapy work with the Barcelona squad but also works on Spain’s medical staff.
And he started liaising with Yamal for weekly updates on his recovery way ahead of the World Cup.
Yamal will have wanted a smoother run-up to the tournament but nobody was going to deny him his first World Cup experience.
He said: “As a kid playing , the World Cup has always been a dream. It will be my third World Cup and I am a part of it. It seems unbelievable.”
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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