New Jersey: Yamal and Porro train separately for Spain ahead of World Cup final

By Arjun Sharma — 17 July 2026 — 3 min read

Spain’s Preparations in New Jersey

Spain’s key players, Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro, undertook individual training sessions in New Jersey as a precautionary measure. This approach aims to manage their workload and ensure their fitness for the upcoming World Cup final against Argentina. The separate training occurred on Thursday as the team began preparations for the Sunday match.

Both players were present at one of Red Bull New York’s training facilities during the initial session for Luis de la Fuente’s squad. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) has indicated that both Yamal and Porro are expected to be available for the final, with their individual work being a part of workload management.

The team has three days to acclimatise to the humid conditions and temperatures, which were around 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), in New Jersey. This will be only their second outdoor match of the tournament. The rest of the squad appeared relaxed and upbeat during the 15 minutes of training open to the media.

Injury Concerns and Workload Management

Pedro Porro is understood to be dealing with a hamstring strain, though the issue is not considered serious. De la Fuente had mentioned after Spain’s semi-final win over France that Porro was carrying a knock. Porro’s situation is described as muscle fatigue, stemming from his significant physical effort throughout the knockout stages of the tournament. He was named the MVP of the semi-final after scoring the second goal against France and was replaced by Marcos Llorente in the closing stages of that match.

Yamal’s condition appears less concerning, although he was seen with a visible bandage on his left thigh during training. He finished the semi-final against France feeling the effects of a heavy blow, which occurred when Lucas Digne brought him down inside the penalty area, leading to a penalty converted by Mikel Oyarzabal. While adrenaline helped him complete the match, the pain reportedly intensified later. De la Fuente stated after the France match that the teenager had “nothing,” but the physical impact of his duel with Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez was evident the following day, with Yamal experiencing aches and bruises from the demanding game.

Spain’s medical staff are actively treating the player, whose current concern comes shortly after recovering from an April hamstring tear. Despite his individual training, the team remains calm, with coaches carefully managing his workload. Reports suggest that keeping him separate from the main group is largely a preventative measure. Yamal has featured in every match of Spain’s tournament run, including scoring in the 4-0 group-stage win over Saudi Arabia.

Optimism for the Final

De la Fuente remains optimistic about having a full squad available for the final on Sunday. He expressed hope after the semi-final that there would be no problems with his key duo. Spain’s main objective is to ensure that Yamal, Porro, and the rest of the squad are as fresh as possible for the decisive match.

Spain is aiming to secure their second World Cup title, adding to their historic 2010 triumph in South Africa. Meanwhile, Argentina is pursuing their fourth world crown, having previously won in 1978, 1986, and 2022. The medical staff are optimistic that Yamal’s “heavy blow” will not result in a long-term absence.

Porro has been a significant player for Spain throughout the knockout stages, featuring in every match after only playing against Saudi Arabia in the group stage. He scored in the victory over Austria before playing against Portugal, Belgium, and France.

Source: m.rediff.com

Arjun Sharma

Sports Reporter