Spain's World Cup hopes are resting on the fitness of two of their most electrifying young talents, as head coach Luis de la Fuente expressed confidence Tuesday that wingers Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams will be ready for next month's tournament.

The 18-year-old Yamal has been sidelined since late April with a hamstring injury, cutting short his stellar season with Barcelona. However, the club has indicated he should recover in time for the summer spectacle set to unfold across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao's Williams picked up a muscle injury just this past Sunday, adding to the list of concerns for the Spanish camp.

Adding to the injury woes, Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino has been out of action for three months after breaking his right foot. Despite these setbacks, De la Fuente remains optimistic about his squad's readiness.

"I think that all the players who have been mentioned will be fit and available for the start of the World Cup and I believe for the first match," De la Fuente told journalists. "But if it's not for the first match, it would be for the second or third, and it doesn't cause any major setbacks."

The Spanish coach acknowledged the challenging circumstances, noting it has been "a very tough year in terms of injuries." He added, "The world of injuries, which is the tragedy of sport, is what truly keeps us under a lot of pressure, especially in this critical phase because injuries that occur from now on, any minor muscular injury, are really difficult to recover from."

De la Fuente confirmed that his final World Cup squad will feature 26 players, with additional names included for a warm-up friendly against Iraq on June 4. Spain's campaign kicks off on June 15 against Cape Verde in Atlanta, with group-stage matches against Uruguay and Saudi Arabia to follow. For fans looking to show their support, this is the perfect time to gear up in La Roja's latest kit as the team battles both opponents and injury challenges on the road to glory.