Spain coach Luis de la Fuente expects 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal to recover from his hamstring injury in time for the World Cup opener against Cape Verde on June 15. Yamal will miss Thursday's warmup match against Iraq but all signs point to being available for the tournament's first match in Atlanta.

The Barcelona star injured his left hamstring while converting a penalty on April 22, causing him to fear missing the tournament. De la Fuente confirmed the young winger won't feature against Iraq but emphasized "all signs point" to being ready. Spain faces Saudi Arabia and Uruguay in Group H after their opener, with Yamal expected to lead the attack.

Spain has not advanced past the round of 16 since winning their only World Cup title in 2010. Yamal's availability could be crucial for their chances. Coach De la Fuente remains optimistic: "If nothing changes, he could be ready to play on June 15." Spain's final warmup comes against Peru in Mexico on Monday before their Group H campaign begins.