World Cup final: Luis de la Fuente takes Spain back to the promised land
Spain returned to the promised land. Sixteen years after Andres Iniesta’s famous strike against the Netherlands clinched their first FIFA World Cup title, La Roja are champions once again. They dethroned defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time at MetLife Stadium to cap off a tournament that reaffirmed Spain’s place at the pinnacle of world football.
In the middle of it all stood Luis de la Fuente.
At the age of 65, the oldest coach to win a FIFA World Cup, De la Fuente completed one of the greatest managerial runs in international football. Since taking charge of Spain, he has guided the country to the UEFA Nations League, Euro 2024 and now the FIFA World Cup, while Spain have also extended their unbeaten run to 38 matches, the longest ever by a European or South American national team.
But for De la Fuente, Sunday’s triumph was about much more than tactics or trophies.
“In the past, people were surprised that footballers are talented, skilled and good people,” De la Fuente said after the match.
“We are the most united team, thanks to solidary and valuable people.”
Spanish football has long been admired for its elegant, possession-based style, but this generation has added another dimension. The passing remains sharp, the movement relentless, but underneath lies a team built on trust and togetherness.
This philosophy has been years in the making.
Long before these players became European and world champions, De la Fuente worked with many of them in the Spanish youth set-up. He led a young generation with players who later became senior internationals, won the European Under-19 Championship in 2015 and helped shape the identity of the side that now rules world football.
Players like Unai Simon, Rodri and Mikel Merino grew under his watch before becoming the backbone of this Spanish team.
“I am so proud of this generation of footballers who grew up with this philosophy, stayed true to it, made it even better and led by example as a team and as a family. They are outstanding world-class footballers with exceptional talent,” said De la Fuente.
“I’m very moved. When I look back and think about them, we’ve won everything, absolutely everything, with this generation of players.”
Spain’s latest triumph came in fitting fashion. Against Argentina, they dominated possession and limited Lionel Messi’s influence for the entirety of the match before substitute Ferran Torres hit the winner in the 106th minute. Argentina, reduced to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez’s late dismissal, could not find an answer as Spain lifted their second World Cup title.
A GOAL THAT BELONGED TO 47 MILLION
The theme of unity was echoed in the words of match winner Ferran Torres.
Torres, who scored the only goal of the final, refused to take individual credit for the biggest moment of his career, insisting the strike belonged to the whole country.
“It was a goal scored by 47 million people. It was neither my goal nor the goal of 26 players. It was meant to be, it was meant to be the winner,” Torres said.
The striker also admitted facing Lionel Messi in the World Cup final brought its own pressure, but believed Spanish football deserved the biggest prize in the end.
“While all finals are tough, when you’re up against Messi you’re a bit nervous. We played better football.”
These comments perfectly reflected the culture that De la Fuente had built. Spain’s World Cup victory was not driven by one superstar or one defining individual. It was built on a generation that grew up together, trusted each other and, under the guidance of a coach who looked after them for more than a decade, climbed back to the top of world football.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
20 Jul 2026 11:54 IST