Why is Yéremy Pino benched for Spain vs Austria in FIFA World Cup 2026?

Yéremy Pino was not even named on the bench against Austria.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is currently underway with its Round of 32 fixtures, with each encounter producing unexpected results that have led to increased excitement amongst the fans.

Spain faced off against Austria in a highly exciting clash at the Los Angeles Stadium, with the Round of 16 spot on the line. However, La Roja played with a massive disadvantage, as winger Yeremy Pino was ruled out for this clash.

This was the second World Cup meeting between the two sides, with the previous encounter coming in the 1978 World Cup, when Austria defeated Spain 2-1 in the group stages.

Why is Yéremy Pino benched?

Yéremy Pino has been named on the bench for the crucial knockout fixture against Austria, after being speculated to be sidelined with an unfortunate injury. Manager Luis de la Fuente clarified the situation, confirming that the young winger had been officially sidelined after sustaining an acromioclavicular sprain in his shoulder.

Yeremy’s recovery has been miraculous. After the game, it looked like a [collarbone] fracture and it wasn’t. With his character and his courage, he’s back training completely normally.

The injury occurred following a violent collision in the closing stages of Spain’s final Group H match against Uruguay, when Yéremy Pino suffered a shoulder injury after falling awkwardly on his left shoulder following a heavy challenge from Uruguay’s Brian Rodríguez.

Pino had entered this tournament as a vital tactical weapon for Luis de la Fuente, providing immense tactical versatility and a relentless work rate. His direct style of play, combined with his ability to relentlessly stretch opposition backlines, had made him lethal during Spain’s flawless progression through the group stages.

Whether starting or making an appearance from the bench, his presence consistently allowed Spain to create dangerous overloads in the final third while maintaining defensive stability against quick counter-attacking sides.

However, the Spanish national team’s medical staff heavily prioritized his long-term recovery, placing him on the bench to not rush him to the pitch.

Luis de la Fuente and his staff are in a massive dilemma, as the team are currently thin on attacking talents with winger Nico Williams also sustaining an injury in the same match. The manager will have to now explore new attacking combinations, as the team targets a historic second World Cup title.

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