Madrid, May 18 (IANS). Spain has suffered a major setback before the FIFA World Cup 2026 team was announced. FC Barcelona midfielder Fermin Lopez has been ruled out of the tournament due to a foot fracture. Lopez suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot during the 3-1 win against Real Betis on Sunday. The Spanish champion team has said that Lopez will undergo surgery, but no time has been given for his return.
“Fermin Lopez fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in the match against Betis. The player will undergo surgery,” a Barcelona statement said on Monday. Lopez was replaced at half-time in Barcelona’s 3-1 home win against Real Betis on Sunday. The club confirmed the seriousness of his injury a day later.
Spain will open their FIFA World Cup campaign against Cape Verde on 15 June, before facing Saudi Arabia on 21 June and Uruguay six days later. In such a situation, 23-year-old Lopez has no chance to recover by the time the tournament starts. Lopez has played 7 matches for Spain and his inclusion in de la Fuente’s 26-man squad was considered almost certain.
Lopez has become a regular player for Barcelona over the past two seasons, and has helped the Catalan team win two consecutive La Liga titles. The midfielder has scored 13 goals and provided 17 assists in 48 appearances in all competitions this season, despite suffering two groin injuries. Had Lopez played at the World Cup, it would have been his second major international tournament, having previously played 28 minutes in Spain’s successful Euro 2024 campaign.
The injury adds to the fitness concerns in the Spain squad ahead of the tournament. De la Fuente said last week that he was willing to wait for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams to recover from a hamstring injury; He said that even if Williams misses the opening match, he could still return in the second match of the group stage. Barcelona winger Lamin Yamal is also trying to recover from a hamstring injury, while Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino also remains a doubt to play after he had surgery on a foot injury earlier this year.
–IANS
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