The Athletic Club forward is out of the Champions League clash against Sporting CP and concerns are growing about his World Cup availability
Nico Williams’ road to the 2026 World Cup has hit a major stumbling block as the Athletic Club winger continues to struggle with pubalgia. With the 23-year-old set to miss the visit of Sporting CP in the Champions League, concerns over the severity of his condition are growing.
Despite resting and following all recommended treatments, Williams has not been able to shake the problem that has seen him miss at least eight games this season and play reduced minutes in many others. With the World Cup looming this summer, surgery may even be considered as a possible route to complete recovery – a decision that could pit club against country in terms of the timing of it.
Surgery a last resort
Athletic’s medical staff are understood to be weighing all options after more conservative measures failed to deliver the necessary improvement. Surgical intervention, while potentially offering a more definitive solution, would likely sideline Williams for at least two months.
The follow-up question if surgery is the chosen route would be: when is the best time to do it? As soon as possible to give the player the best chance of recovery before the summer, or at the end of the season to avoid missing such an important section of the club season?
The decision will not be an easy one and there is no solution that will keep all parties happy. Many fans of Athletic Club, notoriously ambivalent towards the Spanish national team, will be furious if they perceive the player’s rehab is geared towards being in peak condition for the World Cup at the expense of being on the pitch for the Lions in a bid to salvage a rather underwhelming season.
On the other hand, if surgery is deemed necessary then perhaps delaying it any longer will only worsen the player’s condition. Nico’s commitment to the Basque club cannot be questioned, but it is only natural that the World Cup will play a part in his decision making.
What is pubalgia?
Pubalgia, which relates to chronic groin pain, is becoming an increasingly common problem amongst young footballers due to the inevitable wear and tear that twisting and kicking movements can cause in the lower abdomen and groin. Longer seasons, fewer rest periods and higher intensity games could all be playing a part in the proliferation of this kind of injury.
The term is likely to already be a familiar one for fans of Spanish football, with recent high-profile examples of players with the condition including Barcelona star and Nico Williams’ international teammate Lamine Yamal. The Blaugrana winger has also had recurring issues with pubalgia this season, causing him to miss five club games in September and October.
The same issue could also threaten the World Cup participation of Mexico’s teenage sensation Gilberto Mora. The Tijauan attacker had to pull out of the most recent international games and is expected to face a spell on the sidelines in the hope of recovering before the summer.
🇲🇽 Concerns for Mexico ahead of the World Cup as one of their brightest stars suffers problematic injury.
🤕 Gilberto Mora has a pubalgia issue, the same condition that Lamine Yamal suffers from.https://t.co/6nj07GNB5s
— BB Sport News (@BBSportNews24) January 22, 2026
World Cup participation at risk
Williams’ ability to stretch defences, combine with teammates like Lamine Yamal, and offer Spain crucial width and penetration has been instrumental in La Roja’s recent successes – including their Euro 2024 triumph – and his absence would be a blow to Luis de la Fuente’s tactical plans.
With the World Cup approaching, Athletic and Spain’s medical teams are under pressure to find a solution that allows Williams to return to peak fitness without risking long-term damage – a balance that has confounded medical staff across football when it comes to pubalgia.