Why Lamine Yamal’s Father Will Miss the World Cup Final Against Argentina

Lamine Yamal has been one of the standout players at the 2026 World Cup, but his father won’t see any of it in person. Munir Nasraoui has missed every one of Spain’s matches, including Sunday’s final against Argentina, and he’s now explained why. Speaking on Spanish TV, he revealed he lives with epilepsy, a condition that makes the trip and the tension of watching too risky.

Why he’s staying home

As per Sportskeeda, Nasraoui said he takes daily medication and could have a seizure without warning, especially under stress. He put it plainly: “I could be here, right now, under the effects of stress or emotion, and have a seizure without realizing it.”

It’s not just the distance, though Los Angeles alone sits roughly 18,000 kilometres from his home in Spain. It’s the emotional weight of watching his son play in a World Cup final. He said the excitement could trigger an episode on its own, so he decided the safer call was to stay home and watch on television.

Spain’s road to the final has run through Atlanta, Guadalajara, Dallas and Los Angeles before reaching New Jersey. Yamal hasn’t gone through it alone. His mother, younger brother and girlfriend have all been at the matches. His father has followed from home instead, cheering him on through social media.

After Spain beat France to reach the final, Yamal called his dad. Nasraoui told him he was proud, and Yamal told him the same back. Nasraoui said Spain’s run has made him proud regardless of where he’s watching from.

He was in the stands for Yamal’s Euro 2024 win two years ago. This time, missing the final isn’t a choice he’s happy about, but it’s the one he’s making.