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Argentina and Spain Coaches Embrace Before 2026 World Cup Final
A brief but memorable hug between Argentina’s head coach Lionel Scaloni and Spain’s head coach Luis de la Fuente was captured on the stage of the FIFA Fanatics event in New York City on Friday, July 17, 2026. The moment, which lasted longer than the cameras expected, took place before the two men would face each other in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The hug occurred during a pre‑match press conference that was part of the Fanatics Fest, a partnership between FIFA and the sports‑collectibles company that brought a series of fan‑centric activities to the Javits Center. Fans who paid $60 for a ticket were able to watch the coaches, who are both former professional players, exchange a brief but personal greeting in front of a crowd of thousands.
Scaloni, who was appointed Argentina’s senior‑team manager in 2018, guided the side to a third‑place finish at the 2019 Copa América, a title in 2021, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is 48 years old and has also earned a UEFA Pro licence. De la Fuente, born in 1961, is a former left‑back who played for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla. He earned his UEFA Pro licence in 2017 and has coached a number of Spanish clubs before taking the national‑team job.
The two coaches first met in 2017 when Scaloni was completing his UEFA Pro course at the Spanish Football Federation’s academy in Las Rozas. De la Fuente was one of the instructors. According to the article, the relationship that began in a classroom has now evolved into a professional rivalry.
"He knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football," Scaloni said with a smile during the press conference. "Both of us know how the other plays. Each team tries to attack, enjoy possession and become stronger with the ball. I hope Sunday’s game will be a good show and people will be entertained."
De la Fuente echoed the sentiment. "We are great competitors and we are happy to face each other," he said. "We have huge admiration for each other. Scaloni and I share many concepts, values and principles that drive our teams."
The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and the first to feature 48 teams. It began on June 11 and will conclude on July 19, 2026, with the final match between Argentina and Spain. Argentina are the defending champions, having won the 2022 edition in Qatar, while Spain are the reigning European champions, having appeared in a Euro final and a Nations League final under de la Fuente.
Scaloni noted that Argentina’s previous World Cup final experience does not give him an advantage over Spain. "Spain is a tough team," he said. "They have played a Euro final and a Nations League final under Luis. I don’t think it favours us because we have played a World Cup final before."
The hug, a brief display of camaraderie, will be followed by a competitive match in which the two coaches will be on opposite technical areas, each leading a squad that has achieved significant success in recent years. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium, a venue that has hosted major sporting events and will host the culmination of the 48‑team tournament.
The event at Fanatics Fest was part of a broader partnership that includes the distribution of collectibles and a digital platform for fans. The partnership, announced earlier in the year, aimed to bring a new level of engagement to the World Cup experience.
The final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 19:00 local time. The match will be broadcast worldwide and will be the most watched sporting event of the year. Both teams will be looking to add a major trophy to their histories, with Argentina hoping to defend their title and Spain aiming for a first World Cup win.
The hug between Scaloni and de la Fuente will likely be remembered as a moment of respect and friendship that precedes a high‑stakes encounter. The two coaches, who share similar footballing philosophies, will now compete for the world’s most prestigious trophy.
The 2026 World Cup final will be the final chapter of a tournament that saw the highest attendance in World Cup history, with 3.6 million spectators across the 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The match will decide whether Argentina can repeat as world champions or whether Spain can claim their first World Cup title. The outcome will have implications for the legacy of both coaches and the future of international football.
The hug, captured on camera, will serve as a reminder that, even in the most competitive environment, personal respect and shared history can coexist with fierce rivalry.
The final will be played on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, and will be watched by millions of fans worldwide. The match will determine the world champion and will be the culmination of the 48‑team tournament that began on June 11, 2026.
The hug occurred during a pre‑match press conference that was part of the Fanatics Fest, a partnership between FIFA and the sports‑collectibles company that brought a series of fan‑centric activities to the Javits Center. Fans who paid $60 for a ticket were able to watch the coaches, who are both former professional players, exchange a brief but personal greeting in front of a crowd of thousands.
Scaloni, who was appointed Argentina’s senior‑team manager in 2018, guided the side to a third‑place finish at the 2019 Copa América, a title in 2021, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He is 48 years old and has also earned a UEFA Pro licence. De la Fuente, born in 1961, is a former left‑back who played for Athletic Bilbao and Sevilla. He earned his UEFA Pro licence in 2017 and has coached a number of Spanish clubs before taking the national‑team job.
The two coaches first met in 2017 when Scaloni was completing his UEFA Pro course at the Spanish Football Federation’s academy in Las Rozas. De la Fuente was one of the instructors. According to the article, the relationship that began in a classroom has now evolved into a professional rivalry.
"He knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football," Scaloni said with a smile during the press conference. "Both of us know how the other plays. Each team tries to attack, enjoy possession and become stronger with the ball. I hope Sunday’s game will be a good show and people will be entertained."
De la Fuente echoed the sentiment. "We are great competitors and we are happy to face each other," he said. "We have huge admiration for each other. Scaloni and I share many concepts, values and principles that drive our teams."
The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of the tournament and the first to feature 48 teams. It began on June 11 and will conclude on July 19, 2026, with the final match between Argentina and Spain. Argentina are the defending champions, having won the 2022 edition in Qatar, while Spain are the reigning European champions, having appeared in a Euro final and a Nations League final under de la Fuente.
Scaloni noted that Argentina’s previous World Cup final experience does not give him an advantage over Spain. "Spain is a tough team," he said. "They have played a Euro final and a Nations League final under Luis. I don’t think it favours us because we have played a World Cup final before."
The hug, a brief display of camaraderie, will be followed by a competitive match in which the two coaches will be on opposite technical areas, each leading a squad that has achieved significant success in recent years. The final will be played at MetLife Stadium, a venue that has hosted major sporting events and will host the culmination of the 48‑team tournament.
The event at Fanatics Fest was part of a broader partnership that includes the distribution of collectibles and a digital platform for fans. The partnership, announced earlier in the year, aimed to bring a new level of engagement to the World Cup experience.
The final will take place on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 19:00 local time. The match will be broadcast worldwide and will be the most watched sporting event of the year. Both teams will be looking to add a major trophy to their histories, with Argentina hoping to defend their title and Spain aiming for a first World Cup win.
The hug between Scaloni and de la Fuente will likely be remembered as a moment of respect and friendship that precedes a high‑stakes encounter. The two coaches, who share similar footballing philosophies, will now compete for the world’s most prestigious trophy.
The 2026 World Cup final will be the final chapter of a tournament that saw the highest attendance in World Cup history, with 3.6 million spectators across the 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The match will decide whether Argentina can repeat as world champions or whether Spain can claim their first World Cup title. The outcome will have implications for the legacy of both coaches and the future of international football.
The hug, captured on camera, will serve as a reminder that, even in the most competitive environment, personal respect and shared history can coexist with fierce rivalry.
The final will be played on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at MetLife Stadium, and will be watched by millions of fans worldwide. The match will determine the world champion and will be the culmination of the 48‑team tournament that began on June 11, 2026.
