Scaloni questions his future as Argentina coach after World Cup final defeat

Lionel Scaloni, the head coach of Argentina, has cast doubt on his continued tenure with the national team following their 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Scaloni, 48, is currently under contract until December. While a verbal agreement was reportedly in place for an extension through the 2030 World Cup, he stated in the post-match press conference that he needs time to think about his next steps.

"I already have an idea of what I want to do, I will fulfill the contract and then I will see. I feel the need to think, because I don't know if something this big can be done again," Scaloni said, visibly emotional. He expressed gratitude to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) president for the opportunity.

Scaloni, initially appointed interim coach in 2018 by AFA head Claudio "Chiqui" Tapia, rebuilt the Argentine squad. Under his leadership, they achieved significant success, including winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima in 2022. He emphasized the dedication of his coaching staff and players, stating, "We tried until the last moment to give our best as a coaching staff, the players, and I think it is fair that I can take this time and think about it."

Fighting back tears, Scaloni described the role as "wonderful" and "dreamed of," but stressed the need to "reset" and rebuild a cohesive group, which he believes would be difficult to replicate. He concluded the press conference earlier than planned due to his profound sadness over losing the final, which was the second consecutive World Cup final for Argentina.