Lamine Yamal became a World Cup winner at just 19 years old when Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Sunday.
Less than a week later, his club FC Barcelona will begin its pre-season preparations with a friendly against Catalan side CE Europa at the Ciutat Esportiva Joan Gamper.
However, Yamal will not be a part of the contest on Friday. This is because of a guideline issued by FIFA to ensure the players participating in the World Cup get enough rest and avoid injuries.
“All players who take part in the World Cup final must be granted at least 21 consecutive days of rest, equivalent to three full weeks of vacation. That period begins immediately after the championship match and is a right that clubs must respect before asking their players to return,” the governing body said.
Apart from Yamal, seven other Barcelona players: Pedri, Gavi, Dani Olmo, Ferran Torres, Eric Garcia, Joan Garcia and Pau Cubarsi, will also not be a part of this friendly for the same reason.
These players are likely to miss the club’s next games too, against Birmingham City and Preston North End.
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Published on Jul 24, 2026