Nico Williams Injury Raises Alarm for Spain's World Cup Plans
Spain’s World Cup build-up took another worrying turn on Sunday, and this time the alarm bells rang in Bilbao.
Nico Williams, one of the brightest pieces in Luis de la Fuente’s attacking puzzle, hobbled out of Athletic Club’s 1-0 home defeat to Valencia with what appeared to be a hamstring injury, just a month before Spain open their campaign in North America.
He pulled up before half-time at San Mamés, immediately signalling trouble. The 23-year-old left the pitch with a distraught look, then reappeared on the bench with a pad strapped to his left hamstring – an image that will have been replayed more than once at the Spanish federation’s headquarters.
For Spain, the timing could hardly be worse. For Williams, it feels cruelly familiar. He had already missed several weeks earlier this year with another injury, and this latest setback lands at the very moment his international career seemed to be accelerating.
Since his debut in 2022, Williams has become a regular feature in the national side, scoring six goals in 30 appearances. His club numbers this season underline his importance: six goals and seven assists in 32 games for Athletic, a constant outlet on the flank and a direct threat in transition.
On Sunday, though, all that attacking verve gave way to concern.
“He was limping a lot. He hadn’t felt that type of pain before,” his brother and Athletic teammate Inaki Williams admitted afterwards. “It’s concerning, considering the moment we are in right now. Let’s wait and hope for the best possible scenario.”
The club did not immediately release any medical report or prognosis. Until they do, Spain can only wait — and worry.
Yamal already out, anxiety rising
The Williams scare lands on top of an existing problem. Spain are already monitoring the recovery of Lamine Yamal, their teenage star forward, who suffered a torn hamstring last month while playing for Barcelona.
One hamstring issue is bad luck. Two, both to key attacking players, with the World Cup a month away, changes the mood entirely.
De la Fuente has been shaping a front line built on pace, width and unpredictability. Yamal on one side, Williams on the other, offered exactly that. Now both are in the hands of medical teams, their workloads and recovery timelines under forensic scrutiny.
Spain’s World Cup route does not allow much margin for error. Drawn in Group H, the 2010 champions begin in Atlanta, Georgia, against Cape Verde on June 15, stay in the city to meet Saudi Arabia on June 21, then travel to Guadalajara, Mexico, to face Uruguay on June 26 in what could be a decisive group finale.
Every one of those dates is already circled. The question now is which names will still be available to underline them.
De la Fuente’s long list, and a growing headache
This week, De la Fuente is due to announce a 55-man preliminary squad for the tournament. On paper, it is a chance to cast the net wide, to reward form and keep competition high. In reality, it may double as an insurance policy.
Williams, with his blend of work rate, pace and end product, would be an automatic inclusion if fit. The same applies to Yamal. Their situations turn that long list into a strategic buffer, a way to protect Spain from the worst-case scenario.
For now, there are no scans made public, no recovery schedules, no definitive answers. Only images: Williams grimacing as he leaves the pitch; Yamal already sidelined; De la Fuente preparing a squad announcement with more variables than he would like.
Spain’s World Cup plans are not derailed yet. But the hamstrings of two of their most exciting forwards now hang over the final stretch of preparation — and could yet reshape the story of their summer in North America.
