Nico Williams suffers injury blow ahead of 2026 World Cup

Spain international Nico Williams suffered a worrying injury setback during Athletic Bilbaos La Liga clash against Valencia on Sunday afternoon, raising major concerns ahead of the FIFA World Cup.Williams, who has Ghanaian roots was forced off in the 36th minute as his outfit succumbed to a narrow defeat to Valencia at the Estadio de San Mams.The enterprising winger appeared frustrated after the setback, repeatedly saying, It cant be, it cant be highlighting his immediate fear over the severity of the injury.With just 32 days remaining before the start of the FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, serious doubts are now emerging over whether one of Spains most dangerous attacking players will recover in time for the tournament.The 22-year-old has already endured a challenging campaign disrupted by fitness problems.

Earlier this season, Williams spent about 85 days on the sidelines with various injuries, with recent setback threatening his availability for the global showpiece next month.Meanwhile, Williams is expected to undergo scans in the coming days to determine the extent of the injury and the possible recovery timeline.For Spain, the situation represents a significant blow to their World Cup plans.Williams has become one of the national teams most important attacking weapons thanks to his blistering pace, fearless dribbling, and ability to destabilise defences in one-on-one situations.His explosiveness on the wing has made him a key figure in Spains attacking setup, with many expecting him to play a central role at the upcoming tournament.For now, both club and country can only hope the injury proves less serious than initially feared.

However, the wingers emotional reaction as he left the field has already intensified fears that his season, and potentially his World Cup dream, could be in danger at the worst possible moment.