Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente says his team is already shifting focus to the 2026 World Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout loss to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final on Sunday.
Despite taking the lead twice in regular time, Spain were held to a 2-2 draw before losing 5-3 on penalties at Munich’s Allianz Arena. Spain forward Álvaro Morata had his spot-kick saved by Portugal’s Diogo Costa, before Rúben Neves sealed the win for the Portuguese.
“From this very moment, we are already thinking about the next World Cup, which is our goal,” said de la Fuente after the match. “Our team is always in a position to win. There is a lot of commitment and unity, we will always be close to success.”
De la Fuente praised his players for their performance and resilience, saying he was “proud” of the team despite the loss. The defeat was Spain’s first in a competitive international match since a Euro 2024 qualifier loss to Scotland in March 2023.
Spain had entered the final with momentum, having won the 2023 Nations League and the Euro 2024 championship. Once again, the team’s young core impressed, although the match underscored their heavy reliance on midfield maestro Pedri. The Barcelona star was instrumental in Thursday’s 5-4 semifinal win over France and visibly missed after being substituted late in Sunday’s game.
“Our players are tired after a long and demanding season,” de la Fuente noted. “But Portugal played very well, they have top-class players and deserved credit.”
The coach also defended veteran striker Morata, calling him “a real champion” and “a benchmark for us,” despite his crucial penalty miss. “I’m sorry he missed, but many players don’t even want to take a penalty. He stepped up, and unfortunately, it didn’t go in. That’s football.”
With the Nations League campaign now over, de la Fuente and his squad turn their attention to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, determined to build on recent successes and go even further on the global stage.
Written By Rodney Mbua
