Spanish professional footballer Lamine Yamal’s father, Mounir Nasraoui, couldn’t be in New Jersey in person to watch his son win the 2026 FIFA World Cup last night, as he worried about “causing a problem” due to his epilepsy.
Spain beat Argentina in last night’s World Cup final at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, with the only goal of the final scored by Ferran Torres in the 106th minute, shortly into the second half of extra time.
Unfortunately, the 19-year-old’s father decided to watch the momentous match from home, worried about what would happen if he had a seizure.
He said: “I have to take a lot of medication every day, and I can have an epilepsy seizure.
“I could be here, right now, under the effects of stress or emotion, and have a seizure without realising it. So, you always have to think things through carefully.
“Before travelling, you have to think about me, about him, and about all the people around us. I might end up causing problems. So, it’s better to stay home and watch all this from here.”
Worries around epilepsy and events
This concern is shared by many others living with epilepsy. As part of recent campaign, If I Told You…, people with epilepsy shared with Epilepsy Action that they sometimes avoid big or significant events, like weddings or birthdays of loved ones, worried that they would have a seizure and spoil the event.
People often worry about travelling or being in public places in case they have a seizure and no one knows how to help. In a survey of 2,000 people for another Epilepsy Action campaign, Could I Count On You?, 54% of people said they wouldn’t know what to do if they saw someone having a seizure.
Around a quarter of people said they would probably panic or freeze under the pressure, and two fifths of people said they worried they might make the situation worse.
Of 900 people with epilepsy surveyed, half said they’d be likely to seriously hurt themselves during a seizure if no one stepped in to help. More than half of people said they thought it was unlikely that members of the public would step in to help during a seizure.
Making football more accessible
Earlier this year, Chelsea FC undertook epilepsy training, delivered by Epilepsy Action, in a bid to be more inclusive and accessible, and better support fans and players living with the condition.
Lifelong Chelsea FC fan, Tracy Brown, who has epilepsy, said the uncertainty of her seizures means that match days can be complex. She said: Football remains a vital part of my life and identity. I shouldn’t have to choose between my health and the game I love.”
Amy Boyce, health and safety trainer at Chelsea FC said: “This work grew out of our commitment to making sure everyone on site feels safe and supported. We wanted to put clear, practical processes in place, so our teams know exactly how to respond if someone needs help, particularly on busy match days.”
A special World Cup final
The match last night also held extra significance for fans. Following Spain’s win, Yamal commiserated and embraced football heavyweight Lionel Messi, to the delight of fans who have recently been reminded of the pair’s first encounter.
Photos for a calendar, taken 20 years ago, recently went viral, in which Messi is cradling six-month-old baby Yamal, whose parents had won a competition to be there. Yamal ended up following closely in Messi’s footsteps, and now the duo shared a pitch and a global stage for what could be 39-year-old Messi’s last World Cup final.
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For more training, support and information around epilepsy, visit the Epilepsy Action website.
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