Coach's lucky shoes: Spain's De la Fuente repeats Euro superstition for World Cup

Spanish national football coach Luis de la Fuente adheres to a notable superstition, consistently wearing sneakers adorned with the Spanish flag. This ritual is deeply tied to his belief in luck and has been a recurring theme throughout his coaching career.

During the 2024 European Championship held in Germany, De la Fuente wore a pair of blue Adidas VL Court 3.0 sneakers featuring the national emblem for all seven of Spain's matches. The team's subsequent victory in the tournament, winning every game, reinforced his belief in the lucky charm.

He has decided to continue this practice for the 2026 World Cup, opting for a different model: dark blue Adidas Handball Spezial sneakers. These shoes display the Spanish flag on the lateral rear side, along with his name and initials, 'DLFC'. This choice comes after an unexpected 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opening World Cup match, a result that was not anticipated.

The draw against Cape Verde has elevated the importance of Spain's upcoming match against Saudi Arabia. De la Fuente's superstition, while perhaps unconventional, underscores his desire to replicate the success of the Euro 2024 campaign and ensure Spain regains its winning momentum in the current tournament.