Scaloni and De la Fuente set for emotional showdown in 2026 World Cup final

The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will feature Argentina, coached by Lionel Scaloni, against Spain, led by Luis de la Fuente. The two managers share a unique teacher‑student history: de la Fuente instructed Scaloni during his UEFA Pro coaching licence course in 2017. Ahead of the match they reunited at a FIFA Fanatics event in New York, embracing onstage. Scaloni said, “He knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football,” while de la Fuente added, “We are great competitors, and we are happy to face each other.” Both teams employ a possession‑based, attacking style; de la Fuente recently guided Spain to the Euro 2024 and Nations League titles, and Scaloni steered Argentina to the 2022 World Cup triumph. The final promises a clash not only of footballing talent but of two coaches whose philosophies and personal bond intersect.