Spain coach Luis de la Fuente on Tuesday expressed confidence that winger Nico Williams would recover in time for the 2026 World Cup finals despite suffering a left hamstring injury at the weekend. Williams, 23, was forced off in the first half of Athletic Club's 1-0 home defeat to Valencia on Sunday, May 11, with medical tests on Monday confirming a moderate grade-one strain. The injury rules the winger out for the remainder of Athletic's domestic season but should not derail his World Cup participation.

De la Fuente's Recovery Timeline

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, De la Fuente said Williams faces a recovery window of three to four weeks, provided there are no further complications. "We have been fortunate that Nico's injury is a grade one strain and should be recoverable in three or four weeks if there are no setbacks," the coach said. At that pace, Williams should be available when Spain opens its World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on June 15.

Contingency Plans

De la Fuente, who led Spain to the UEFA Euro 2024 title, acknowledged that even if Williams cannot feature in the opening fixture, the tournament structure provides flexibility. "If he can't play in the first match, then he will for the second or third," he said. Spain's group-stage schedule spans June 15 through June 24, giving the winger additional recovery time if needed.

Squad Announcement and Preparation

De la Fuente will announce his preliminary squad on May 22, though he plans to initially call up a larger pool of players. The FIFA deadline for final squad submissions is June 2. "We will bring in more players to help us complete the preparation match on June 4 against Iraq in A Coruña," he explained. This approach allows Spain to monitor player fitness through the domestic season's conclusion on May 24 before finalising selections.

Injury Concerns in Final Stretch

De la Fuente admitted anxiety over the injury risk during the compressed final weeks of the domestic campaign. "I worry about my players' fitness. This period is critical because any minor injury is difficult to recover from before the World Cup," he said. "We hope there won't be any more injuries; we're constantly crossing our fingers." Williams, who has scored six goals in 30 appearances for the national team, remains a key component of Spain's attacking setup heading into the tournament.

Tournament Details

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will run from June 11 to July 19 and will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Spain will face Cape Verde, Iraq, and one additional opponent in Group H of the preliminary stage.