Barcelona have confirmed that midfielder Fermin Lopez will miss Spain's 2026 FIFA World Cup campaign after undergoing surgery on a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. The 23-year-old sustained the injury during the club's La Liga win over Real Betis. The operation was confirmed as successful, but the six-to-eight-week recovery timeline rules him out of the tournament entirely.
Lopez issued a personal statement following surgery, writing that life and football are cruel. He had been one of the most complete players in La Liga this season, contributing 13 goals and 17 assists in 48 appearances across all competitions. Spain manager Luis de la Fuente had expected him to play a prominent role, and now faces a significant squad selection challenge ahead of their June 15 opener against Cape Verde.
Barcelona and Spain will track Lopez's recovery closely ahead of the new campaign. The midfielder had been central to Barca's La Liga title-winning season, and his absence from the World Cup is a blow both to club morale and to the Spanish national team's ambitions.
