Lamine Yamal almost received a penalty from the Spanish national team’s coaching staff for being late.
Following the disappointing 1-1 draw against Cape Verde on the opening day of Group H at the 2026 World Cup on June 15, coach Luis de la Fuente decided to give the Spanish players a day off to relieve pressure before entering the crucial stage of the group stage.
While most players only traveled around the base camp area in Chattanooga, Lamine Yamal chose to enjoy his day off with his family in Nashville. The 18-year-old Barcelona star went with his mother, girlfriend, and some close friends, and visited a Persian restaurant to enjoy famous dishes.
However, this trip almost cost Yamal. Nashville is about a two-hour drive from the Spanish team’s base. Therefore, the number 10 forward only returned to the training center a few minutes before the 9:00 PM deadline set by coach De la Fuente.
According to Mundo Deportivo, if he arrived late after this time, Yamal would be fined 2,000 euros. This is one of the internal disciplinary rules applied by the Spanish team during their participation in the 2026 World Cup.
Yamal’s day off did not stop there. According to Spanish media, the young player encountered a bit of trouble when returning to the training center due to strict security measures. He had to ask the Spanish Football Federation’s security forces for assistance to get inside on time.
Not only Yamal, but many other players also took the opportunity to enjoy their day off in their own ways. The trio of Alex Baena, Alejandro Grimaldo, and Marc Cucurella spent the morning playing golf before touring the city in the afternoon. Eric Garcia and Dani Olmo went shopping at a mall, while Aymeric Laporte visited a shopping area near the training camp.
Spain will return to training to prepare for their clash with Saudi Arabia on June 21. After the stumble against Cape Verde, coach De la Fuente’s squad needs a victory to avoid falling into a difficult situation in Group H.
