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Spain’s Nico Williams leaves Athletic game with injury ahead of World Cup

By Thomson Reuters May 10, 2026 | 3:38 PM

Spain’s World Cup roster appeared to take another blow when midfielder Nico Williams departed Sunday’s ​La Liga game for ‌Athletic Club with an apparent left leg injury.

Williams was replaced in the 36th minute against Valencia with a distraught ‌look ​on his face. He ⁠was later on ⁠the bench with a pad on his left hamstring as Valencia finished off a 1-0 victory.

Williams, ​23, has scored six goals in 30 appearances with Spain’s national ⁠team since 2022. ⁠He has six goals ​with seven assists in 32 games ​for Athletic Club this season.

Spain already ‌has to worry about midfielder Lamine Yamal, who went down with a torn hamstring last month while ⁠playing for Barcelona.

Spain was drawn into Group H of this summer’s World Cup ⁠in ‌North America. The team will ⁠play its first two ​games ‌at Atlanta, facing Cape ​Verde on ⁠June 15 and Saudi Arabia on June 21. Spain will play its final group game against Uruguay on June 26 at Guadalajara, Mexico.

–Field ​Level Media