Lamine Yamal, the teenager who has spent the last two years making seasoned defenders look like they showed up to the wrong stadium, got the nod from coach Luis de la Fuente to start Spain’s Group H finale against Uruguay on June 26, 2026, in Guadalajara, Mexico.
It’s his second consecutive start in the tournament, and at 18 years old, Yamal is quickly making the case that age is just a number.
What’s at stake in Guadalajara
Spain entered the Uruguay match in a strong position within Group H, having already dispatched Cabo Verde on June 15 and Saudi Arabia on June 21. A victory against Uruguay would lock down the top spot in the group and, crucially, set up a more favorable round-of-32 draw.
Yamal’s inclusion in the starting lineup was widely expected after he scored his first World Cup goal in the Saudi Arabia match on June 21. Training footage from June 25, the day before the Uruguay clash, showed him participating fully with teammates, dispelling any concerns about fitness or rotation.
