Spain’s Nico Williams’ emotional statement before World Cup knockout round
After a stunning 0-0 draw with Cape Verde to open the 2026 World Cup and demolishing Saudi Arabia 4-0, Spain finished the job on Friday night in Guadalajara, beating Uruguay 1-0 to top Group H and advance to the Round of 32.
However, the game wasn’t as clean as La Roja would’ve liked. Both midfielder Yeremy Pino and winger Nico Williams, who came on in the second half, left the match in visible pain. Pino suffered what appeared to be a collarbone injury, while Williams left with a muscular problem.
On Saturday, Spain’s Royal Football Federation confirmed Williams had suffered a moderate-grade right adductor muscle injury caused by a heavy impact during the match. It doesn’t completely rule him out for the rest of the tournament, but it does put his availability in question for Spain’s upcoming match in the Round of 32.
Afterwards, Williams took to social media and delivered an emotional statement.
“Today is one of the worst days of my life,” Williams wrote. “I am injured again after a very complicated year, in which I fought many battles against a pubalgia (sports hernia) … I overcame the injury, and then another one on my hamstring tested me again.”
“Yesterday, I suffered another injury after a challenge by a fellow professional, driven by frustration, discontent, and sadness over his situation. It was a play that, in my opinion, could have been avoided because it was completely unnecessary,” he added.
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The play that Williams said was “driven by frustration” and “completely unnecessary” came from a heavy challenge and lunge from Uruguay midfielder Nicolas de la Cruz late in the second half. Moments later, Agustin Canobbio was handed a straight red card for a reckless tackle on Pau Cubarsi, as Uruguay bowed out of the tournament earlier than many expected.
In a group that also featured Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, La Celeste were seen as the second-best team in the group. Now, they’re headed back to Montevideo, while the Blue Sharks, World Cup debutants, prepare to play Argentina on July 3 in Miami.
Williams plays for Athletic Club in LaLiga, and is arguably Spain’s most electrifying attacker next to 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal. Williams established himself as one of Spain’s most important weapons at Euro 2024, scoring in the final against England and earning Player of the Match honors as La Roja clung to a 2-1 victory.
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The 23-year-old suffered a moderate hamstring injury just before the tournament kicked off, forcing Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, to monitor him closely throughout the group stage. He only made brief substitute appearances in all three group stage matches, and now, he could miss Spain’s upcoming Round of 32 matchup.
Spain will face the runner-up of Group J, either Austria or Algeria, in the first stage of the knockout rounds on Thursday, July 2, at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, California. It should be a pretty winnable matchup, but not having Williams will force some major adjustments on de la Fuente’s part.
