Patrick Kluivert on Lamine Yamal's World Cup ambitions as Spain star battles injury

Barcelona legend Patrick Kluivert explained why injured stars like Lamine Yamal are so eager to compete in this summer's FIFA World Cup, as he unveiled a new soccer field in New York aimed at inspiring the next generation of players.

Kluivert represented the Netherlands at the 1998 World Cup, appearing in four games and netting twice — in the quarterfinal victory over Argentina and the semifinal defeat to Brazil, where his last-minute header forced extra time and penalties, only for the Netherlands to fall short.

He missed the 2002 World Cup after the highly-touted Netherlands squad failed to qualify, with injuries also hampering his prospects of featuring in 2006.

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As someone who experienced those setbacks firsthand, Kluivert understands the desperation of players like Barcelona superstar Yamal to take part despite the winger recently sustaining a hamstring injury that has cast doubt over his availability. Yamal's 2025-26 club season is finished, yet he remains hopeful of featuring in the World Cup — a tournament that has been mired in controversy — next month.

"Listen, the World Cup is the tournament that everybody wants to play in," Kluivert told The Mirror U.S. Sports. "The crazy thing about this is the players are looking after the bodies, but that's when the injury comes - when the World Cup is just one month away. When they try to look out for and protect against injuries, then it happens. It's the worst part about a big tournament coming up.

"Everybody wants to be fit for the World Cup, because that's the creme de la creme. You want to be shining your qualities while representing your country. It's unreal."

Yamal hasn't experienced World Cup competition yet, but guided Spain to UEFA EURO 2024 triumph as a 16-year-old. His progression has been extraordinary, rising through Barcelona's La Masia academy system, and Kluivert hopes the South Bronx facility will broaden access to secure, top-tier playing conditions and function as an enduring gathering point for neighborhood children and families.

"It's important, in these kinds of places in America, to provide the youngsters with the opportunity to play with each other, and this pitch is a fantastic way to help the boys and girls develop themselves as human beings as well as football players," Kluivert said. "What LA LIGA and EA SPORTS FC FUTURES are doing is amazing, providing the youth with a safe place to develop themselves and play with each other. I can only support these initiatives; I, myself, was playing on concrete, and they have a proper pitch to play football. It's fantastic."

This facility, conceived as a multi-purpose venue for athletes across all age groups, represents the 10th FC FUTURES initiative globally with LALIGA and the 21st playing surface unveiled in total, underscoring the remarkable achievements born from the partnership between EA Sports and FC FUTURES.

Kluivert's formative years were spent playing soccer in the streets of Amsterdam-Noord, eventually forging a distinguished career with Ajax - where he netted the decisive goal in a UEFA Champions League Final - and Barcelona.

However, while he values his own journey to the elite level, Kluivert emphasized the significance of new facilities in nurturing talent across the local community in a nation where soccer may not rank as the most beloved sport. The 49-year-old added: "For the youth here, there are plenty of sports - basketball for example - that are more popular, but after the World Cup, I think football will explode in America.

"If you look at football history, the great players come from places where these kinds of pitches are not really provided - but it's not because of the lack of pitches, obviously. This initiative will help the talent really come through, giving players the chance to show their skills and support their young careers."