De la Fuente: Yamal is ready to play but won't start; Real Madrid transfer won't affect Cucurella

Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, addressed the media ahead of La Furia's opening match at the 2026 World Cup tomorrow against tournament debutants Cape Verde.

When asked about Marc Cucurella's almost certain move to Real Madrid, the coach stated: "This won't affect him at all. The same thing happened to us at Euro 2020. We embrace situations that make players happy. This doesn't create an awkward situation. No one would do anything that would negatively impact the group. We are happy. This is good news, and we celebrate it. I am as happy as they are. For the national team, Cucurella could be one of the best in the world; I've always been convinced of that."

"Yamal? He's in good form and arrived exactly when we wanted him to. He feels very good, as do the others who had minor issues. Everyone is available, but the three (Victor Muñoz, Nico Williams, and he) won't start. We'll see how the match unfolds. We are following the guidelines from both Barcelona's medical staff and our own. They indicate he's ready to play tomorrow without problems. In football, you never know what might happen. He's not ready for 90 minutes, but he's ready for a half, I don't know how much exactly. He's in excellent shape to play some minutes, and the doctors agree with this decision," De la Fuente added.

Asked if this World Cup format is easier, the coach replied: "I don't think so. This is a tournament where we see great parity. There have been results no one predicted, and that shows the level of many teams that may not have media recognition but possess significant footballing value. I believe the immediate challenge, against Cape Verde, is the most important one at the World Cup. That's how we approach it. The next one will come after. If anyone thinks tomorrow's match will be easy, they are mistaken."

"I see enthusiasm, very evident during this period. Desire; these are very competitive players. They know this is a star moment for them at the World Cup. Many are making their debut. There's nothing more beautiful than facing a challenge with enthusiasm and conviction. We place great importance on this idea of unity, closeness, and turning everything that's asked of you into something like a family. This is a team," the Spain coach further commented.

"Cape Verde is a team with very clearly defined tactical concepts. They develop their play very well. They have physically strong footballers. Many of them play in Europe and possess that competitive level. This will be a match that will demand our best to compete. We need to start the tournament with confidence. Confidence for the future – that's the significance of the first match. These tournaments are won by those who are most committed from the very beginning. There's no room for error. It's crucial to start well, both from a footballing and psychological perspective," he added regarding the opponent.

Regarding the goalkeeping position, De la Fuente said: "We have three exceptional goalkeepers. We finally managed to get people talking about David Raya. Joan García, Unai Simón, and he are among the best goalkeepers in the world. Let's enjoy them."