The 2026 FIFA World Cup final will bring together two football giants, but behind the historic clash between Spain and Argentina lies a unique personal story. On one side stands Lionel Scaloni, the coach who guided Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. On the other is Luis de la Fuente, the Spanish manager who has transformed his team into European champions after winning UEFA EURO 2024.
Beyond the battle for football’s biggest prize, the final will also be a reunion between a former teacher and his student. Years before they became international managers competing on the world stage, De la Fuente and Scaloni shared a different relationship — one as instructor and learner.
Their connection dates back to 2017, when Scaloni attended the UEFA PRO coaching course organized by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF). De la Fuente was among the coaches responsible for teaching the next generation of managers during the program held at the Football City and coordinated by Ginés Meléndez, the federation’s technical director at the time.
The 2017 UEFA PRO class featured several notable names from the football world, including Andoni Iraola, the current Liverpool manager, former Deportivo teammate Manuel Pablo, and ex-Real Madrid midfielder Fernando Redondo.
At that time, De la Fuente was in charge of Spain’s Under-19 national team and played a key role as a technical instructor during the course. He shared teaching responsibilities with Jorge Vilda, the former Spain women’s national team coach who later led the country to the 2023 Women’s World Cup title. Other specialists, including De Santiago Coca in psychology and Juan Carlos Perlado in physical preparation, also contributed to the program.
Even during those early coaching days, Scaloni showed signs of his future potential. The Argentine finished among the top students of the course before going on to create history, leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and establishing himself as one of the world’s most successful national team coaches.
De la Fuente has also built a remarkable legacy with Spain. After years working within the RFEF structure and developing generations of Spanish talent, he took charge of the senior national team and delivered major success, winning the UEFA Nations League in 2023 before guiding Spain to the EURO 2024 championship.
Now, years after sharing a classroom, Scaloni and De la Fuente will meet on football’s biggest stage. Their friendship and mutual respect remain intact, but for 90 minutes in the World Cup final, both will put that relationship aside.
One coach is chasing another historic triumph for Argentina, while the other is aiming to bring Spain its second World Cup trophy after the nation’s famous 2010 victory in South Africa. A former student and his teacher will now compete for the greatest prize in football.
