Luis de la Fuente addressed the media in the mixed zone after securing Spain’s place in the 2026 World Cup final. Speaking to ‘La 1’, the ‘Roja’ boss lauded his side’s masterclass against France and reflected on the magnitude of the achievement: “Reaching a World Cup final is a luxury for the chosen few, and we must savour every moment.”
Luis de la Fuente has steered Spain to the 2026 World Cup final. Speaking with ‘La 1’ in the mixed zone, the head coach was still absorbing the scale of such a historic feat. Beaming after the victory yet remaining characteristically composed, he spoke of his pride regarding the journey since taking charge of the national team.
“It is difficult to put into words what I am feeling right now, but it is certainly a mix of immense joy and pride in leading professionals of this calibre. There is only one hurdle left, and we are going to give everything to clear it,” he declared. Without hesitation, the coach hailed his squad as the “best team in the world,” noting that while the result might have caught some off guard, his faith in the victory never wavered.
“It unfolded exactly as we had discussed. We knew we were coming up against a global powerhouse, but today it was they who had to face the best team in the world,” he asserted. Despite the celebratory atmosphere, the Spain boss urged caution ahead of Sunday’s showpiece at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. For De la Fuente, the priority is to maintain composure and process the achievement before attempting to conquer the world.
“There has been a lot of built-up tension and the responsibility is immense. Reaching the final of the World Cup is a luxury reserved for the chosen few, and we need to take that in. When we launched this project nearly four years ago, we mapped out a vision; we stayed true to that philosophy, and that is what has brought us here,” concluded a clearly satisfied Luis de la Fuente, having put Spain on the brink of another title.
