Luis de la Fuente guides Spain to 2026 World Cup triumph
Spain won the 2026 FIFA World Cup in New Jersey, defeating Argentina 1‑0 after Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute of extra time. The victory caps a decade‑long project led by 65‑year‑old Luis de la Fuente, who moved from a youth‑development career to senior national‑team manager in December 2022. Under his guidance Spain also captured the 2023 UEFA Nations League and Euro 2024 titles.
Following the triumph, the Spanish Football Federation renewed de la Fuente’s contract through 2028 and is seeking to extend it to cover the 2030 World Cup, which Spain, Morocco and Portugal will host. His son Alberto de la Fuente, a former analyst with experience at SD Huesca, joined the senior staff in 2025. While de la Fuente’s salary of €2 million places him 15th among World Cup coaches, he has been praised by Argentina’s Lionel Scaloni for the tactical insight shared during the tournament.
The win has been celebrated nationally, with President Pedro Sánchez and other officials greeting the team at the Moncloa gardens, and de la Fuente emphasizing the collective effort over individual glory. Spain’s squad, built around players he coached in youth teams, is now positioned as a contender for the 2030 tournament.