World Cup final: Scaloni, former teacher De la Fuente share emotional embrace

Argentina's head coach, Lionel Scaloni, and Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, shared a warm embrace at a FIFA Fanatics event in New York, ahead of their teams' clash in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. This moment highlighted a personal connection that began nearly a decade ago when Scaloni was a student and De la Fuente an instructor.

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He knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football.

The two coaches met during Scaloni's UEFA Pro coaching license course at the Spanish Football Federation's academy in 2017. Their shared history adds a unique layer of personal narrative to the upcoming high-stakes match.

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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.

Despite their past relationship, both coaches acknowledged the professional rivalry that will define Sunday's game. Scaloni noted that while De la Fuente knows him personally, the specific football strategies remain unknown. He expressed hope for an entertaining match, emphasizing that both teams aim to attack and maintain possession.

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We are great competitors, and we are happy to face each other.

De la Fuente also spoke with admiration for his former student, calling their meeting in the final a source of pride. He stated that they share many concepts, values, and principles that guide their teams. Scaloni dismissed any suggestion that Argentina's previous World Cup final experience would offer an advantage, calling Spain a tough opponent who has also reached major finals under De la Fuente's leadership.

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We have huge admiration for each other. Lionel Scaloni and I share many concepts, values and principles that drive our teams.