Spain coach calls Argentinian players' post-final conduct 'intolerable'

Spain's national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, has strongly condemned the behavior of several Argentinian players following Spain's 1-0 victory in the 2026 World Cup final. De la Fuente described the actions as "intolerable" and "inadmissible."

According to reports, some Argentinian footballers and staff members, including Nahuel Molina and Leandro Paredes, confronted Spanish players as they began celebrating their second World Cup title. De la Fuente, who praised the Argentinian team and their coach prior to the match, expressed disappointment with these reactions.

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At the moment of those events, I didn't realize. I was still celebrating with other people, hugging teammates, I didn't realize, it was very quick. But in any case, that is intolerable, inadmissible, that cannot be allowed.

"At the moment of those events, I didn't realize. I was still celebrating with other people, hugging teammates, I didn't realize, it was very quick," De la Fuente said in a televised interview. "But in any case, that is intolerable, inadmissible, that cannot be allowed. Footballers of such footballing stature, whom I have praised every day leading up to this and continue to do so, who are great footballers, who have a great coach, who surely must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions."

De la Fuente highlighted the exemplary conduct of his own players, who maintained their composure amidst the "aggressions" and "provocations." FIFA has since launched an investigation into the incidents, examining potential violations of the world football governing body's disciplinary code. The final match saw Spain secure their victory with a single goal.

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Footballers of such footballing stature, whom I have praised every day leading up to this and continue to do so, who are great footballers, who have a great coach, who surely must have felt just as bad as we did seeing those reactions.