Yamal and Porro Cleared for World Cup Final
Lamine Yamal and Pedro Porro have been declared fit to feature for Spain in the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Both players missed training sessions earlier this week, sparking concerns over their availability for the showpiece match.
Yamal, the Barcelona star, sustained a heavy knock during the semi-final victory over France. He was subsequently rested from training as a precaution, with coach Luis de la Fuente managing his workload carefully after a season hampered by a hamstring injury and groin surgery. Reports indicated Yamal was experiencing “aches and pains” following physical battles with France full-backs Lucas Digne and Theo Hernandez in Dallas.
Pedro Porro, the Tottenham right-back, also sat out the same training session due to what De la Fuente described as “muscle tightness.” However, the issue was not deemed serious, and Porro has been cleared to start in the final.
Spain’s Strong Lineup and Clean Bill of Health
Spain enters the final with a fully fit squad, aiming to dethrone the defending champions and secure their second World Cup title, the first since 2010. De la Fuente has largely stuck with the same lineup that defeated tournament favorites France in the semi-finals, as well as Belgium in the quarter-finals.
The confirmed Spain XI (4-2-3-1) includes Unai Simon in goal, a centre-back pairing of Pau Cubarsi and Aymeric Laporte, with Porro and Marc Cucurella as full-backs. Rodri partners Fabian Ruiz in midfield, with Yamal, Dani Olmo, and Alex Baena supporting lone striker Mikel Oyarzabal. Baena retains his place on the left despite the return to fitness of Nico Williams, a key player in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
Pedri, Williams, Mikel Merino, and Ferran Torres are among the strong options on the bench for De la Fuente.
Argentina’s Challenge and Match Details
Spain faces an Argentina side looking to defend their World Cup crown. The match kicks off at 8pm BST and will be broadcast live on BBC and ITV in the UK. The venue, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, hosts the final of the 2026 World Cup.
