Lamine Yamal refuses to fear France, points to Spain's Euro triumph: 'I'm going to win the World Cup'

Yamal spoke with complete confidence ahead of Spain's knockout campaign, brushing aside the notion that France are a step above his side.

Updated on: Jul 1, 2026, 14:58:34 IST

Written by Aditya Maheshwari

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Lamine Yamal has dismissed suggestions that France should be regarded as favourites ahead of their World Cup knockout meeting with Spain, insisting his side are more than capable of going all the way. The teenage forward pointed to Spain's victory over France in the European Championship semi-final as proof that the two teams are evenly matched, despite Les Bleus' strong run in the tournament so far.

Lamine Yamal is confident of winning the World Cup. (AFP)

Yamal spoke with complete confidence ahead of Spain's knockout campaign, brushing aside the notion that France are a step above his side. The teenage winger pointed to Spain's recent success against Didier Deschamps' team and said his only objective is to help his country win the World Cup.

"There's no team that's impossible to beat. France is not better than us; they haven't beaten us since the European Championship. There's no favorite. No one is ahead of us... When a competition arrives, I think I'm going to win. It's what I have in mind now. I think I'm going to win the World Cup," Yamal told El Partidazo de COPE, as quoted by The Score.

Spain opened their FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign with a goalless draw against Cape Verde before bouncing back in style with a convincing 4-0 victory over Saudi Arabia. They wrapped up the group stage with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Uruguay to secure their place in the knockout rounds. Lamine Yamal, who was managing a fitness issue at the start of the tournament, began the opening match on the bench before making a late appearance as a substitute. Since then, he has returned to full fitness and will be expected to play a key role as Spain prepare to face Austria in the Round of 32 at Los Angeles Stadium on July 3.

“Group stage is meaningless”: Yamal

Yamal also played down France's impressive group-stage campaign, insisting those performances will have little bearing once the knockout rounds begin.

"The group stage is meaningless. I don't think there's a favourite," he said in an interview with El Partidazo de COPE, as quoted by The Score.

The teenage star also revealed his calm approach off the pitch, saying it takes something truly personal to make him emotional.

"I never get excited, I don't cry. I cried when I got injured, when I saw my mother cry. If I win the World Cup I'm not going to cry, it's impossible," he added.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Maheshwari
Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More

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