Hundreds of thousands of fans packed the streets of Madrid on Monday as Spain brought the FIFA World Cup trophy home, with Luis de la Fuente cementing his place in history by becoming the oldest manager ever to win football's greatest prize. The 65-year-old Spaniard guided his side to a 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, joining an elite group of managers who have led their nation to the summit of world football — and doing so with a composure and tactical intelligence that few gave him full credit for before the tournament began.
The scenes in Madrid were extraordinary. Open-top buses moved through a sea of red and yellow as fans draped in Spain shirts lined every available inch of the route through the city centre. Players threw scarves and shirts into the crowd, with Lamine Yamal again grabbing a microphone to lead the singing as the noise became deafening.
De La Fuente's Record
At 65 years and 104 days old on the day of the final, De La Fuente surpassed the record previously held by Didier Deschamps, who had been regarded as one of the best tournament managers of his generation. The Spaniard took charge of the national team in 2022 after a successful spell with Spain's under-21 side, and his appointment was met with some scepticism given the scale of the job he was inheriting.
He has answered every question. Spain went through the 2026 World Cup conceding just one goal across the entire tournament — a record for the fewest goals conceded in a single World Cup — and played football that, at its best, was as elegant and devastating as anything the country produced during its golden era between 2008 and 2012.
A Tournament-Winning System
De La Fuente's approach was built on defensive solidity and swift transitions, with Rodri — who won the tournament's Golden Ball — providing the platform from which Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams could devastate opposition defences. Ferran Torres's winning goal in extra time was the product of a team that never stopped believing in themselves, even as the clock ticked past 90 minutes with the score still level at 1-1.
In his post-match press conference, De La Fuente was characteristically modest. "This squad has been exceptional throughout," he said. "They never gave up, they never stopped working, and this is their moment."
What Comes Next for Spain
The celebrations will last for days, but the football world is already beginning to ask what comes next. Several of Spain's key players — including Yamal, Williams, and Pedri — are at the very start of their international careers, and with De La Fuente signed up through the next cycle, Spain may be better placed than any nation on earth to defend their title.
Keywords: Spain World Cup 2026 parade, Luis De La Fuente World Cup manager, Spain beat Argentina World Cup final, World Cup 2026 winners, Spain football celebration Madrid
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