Why are Yeremy Pino & Nico Williams benched in Portugal vs Spain FIFA World Cup 2026 Round of 16 clash?
(Courtesy : Getty)
The Portugal vs Spain match is taking place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, tonight.
Spain take on their Iberian rivals, Portugal, in a standout Round of 16 clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026. While La Roja have named their strongest possible starting lineup for this crucial fixture, several big names have been dropped to the bench, including Yeremy Pino and Nico Williams.
Head coach Luis de la Fuente opted for an unchanged lineup from the 3-0 win over Austria. Barcelona wunderkind Lamine Yamal starts on the right flank, joined by Atletico Madrid’s Alex Baena on the left. Dani Olmo starts just behind the lone striker, Mikel Oyarzabal.
Rodri and Pedri form the two-man midfield, shielding the centre-back pairing of Aymeric Laporte and Pau Cubarsi. Pedro Porro and Marc Cucurella start as full-backs. Unai Simon starts between the sticks.
Also Read: Spain starting lineup vs Portugal confirmed
Why are Yeremy Pino & Nico Williams not starting?
Both players are out of the Spanish starting lineup because they are nursing injuries sustained during the match against Uruguay.
Yeremy Pino landed awkwardly on his left shoulder during the closing stages of the match. While the initial diagnosis was worrying, he later avoided a collarbone fracture. Instead, he suffered an acromioclavicular sprain, which is an injury to the ligament connecting the shoulder and the collarbone.
As a result, the Crystal Palace attacker could miss the rest of the World Cup campaign for La Roja.
Nico Williams, meanwhile, is out with a groin injury. Although he did not play against Austria, he has returned to training, and there are hopes that he can make a comeback in the latter stages of the quadrennial competition.
Why is Yeremy Pino benched vs Portugal?
Pino was benched because he suffered an acromioclavicular sprain in his left shoulder after landing awkwardly against Uruguay.
Why was Nico Williams benched vs Portugal?
Williams was benched due to a groin injury that kept him out of the Austria match.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.