The US, Canada and Mexico World Cup qualifiers, Spain vs Türkiye, the top spot battle! Can Yamal still start when he is injured?

Yamar's injury situation and starting possibility

• The nature of the injury

In the game between Spain and Bulgaria on September 5, Yamal was replaced in the 79th minute due to a slight inappropriate back. The team doctor confirmed that the injury was mild fatigue of the back muscles and no structural damage. It was a protective substitution rather than a serious injury.

• Recovery progressed smoothly

After the game, Yamal only participated in restorative training (gym and jogging) and did not conduct high-intensity confrontation. Coach Dela Fuente made it clear at the pre-match press conference on September 7: "No important players in the team have any discomfort symptoms that affect the game", indirectly confirming that Yamal has recovered from health.

• The coaching staff made a clear statement

de La Fuente emphasized that "the player's condition has met the starting requirements" and pointed out that the key battle against Turkey will give priority to the strongest lineup. Many Spanish media (such as World Sports and Daily Sports) predict that Yamal will appear on the starting list.

Key background of the competition

• Importance of the event: This game is a battle for the first place in Group E. Both teams won in the first round (Spain 3-0 Bulgaria, Türkiye 3-2 Georgia), and the victory and loss directly affect the group qualifying situation.

• Tactical Value: Yamal contributed 1 assist and instigated 3 goals in the first game. His right-hand breakthrough is Spain's core offensive method. Turkish player Julaire also said before the game that "Yamar will make every effort to create a threat", indirectly confirming the opponent's prediction of his starting lineup.

• Historical confrontation: Spain has remained unbeaten against Türkiye in the last 5 times (3 wins and 2 draws), but it still faces challenges away games.

Turkey and Spain will have a direct dialogue in the second round of Group E of the 2026 World Cup European Qualifiers. Both teams won the first round and scored 3 points at the same time. Spain temporarily ranked first with the advantage of goal difference. This match will directly affect the ownership of the group's top spot.

Key points of the game:

Türkiye has a strong home momentum, with 3 wins and 1 draw in the last 4 home games, and the front line is led by new stars such as Gulaire and Irdez, which is full of impact on the offensive end. However, there are hidden dangers in defense, especially the weak defense on the left, and the main winger Ilmaz was suspended due to a red card, which affected his offensive and defensive configuration.

Spain advantages:

As the defending champion of the European Cup, Spain ranks second in FIFA, with a mature pass and control system, and has remained unbeaten in 7 wins and 3 draws in all competitions in the last 10 games. It has blossomed at multiple points on the offensive end, and has scored 16 goals in the last 6 games. Although players such as Garvey are injured, the overall lineup depth and tactical execution still prevail.

Historical confrontation:

Spain has an absolute psychological advantage over Turkey. In 11 matches in history, there are 6 wins, 4 draws and 1 loss, unbeaten in the last 8 matches, and all the last three wins, including a 3-0 victory in the 2016 European Cup.

Core Highlights:

Young Rising Stars - The head-on decisive between Real Madrid star Gulaire and Spanish supernova Yamal is regarded as an early collision of future superstars. At the same time, the confrontation between Calhanoglu and Spanish midfielder will also determine the control of the game rhythm.

Score prediction trend:

Multi-party analysis tends to Spain's away wins or draws, and common predicted scores include 1-2, 0-1, 1-1. Considering that Spain's recent defensive stability is average and Turkey has a strong fighting spirit at home, the game process is expected to be in a fierce stalemate

Potential adjustment possibility (very small)

If there is unexpected discomfort in warm-up before the game (referred to historical cases), the coaching staff may initiate alternatives (such as Ferran Torres or Nico Williams rotation), but as of September 7, all information points to Yamal's normal start.

Conclusion

Yamar is confirmed to enter the starting lineup against Turkey. The injury recovery is smooth + the coaching staff's trust + the tactical core position, jointly supporting him to continue to play in this key World Cup qualifier as the main player.