BARCELONA, Spain – Luis de la Fuente isn’t just planning for the World Cup; he’s already playing it. Speaking ahead of Spain’s friendly against Egypt at the RCDE Stadium tonight, the man who led La Roja to Euro 2024 glory made it clear that his side is ready to carry the heavy mantle of tournament favorites.
The Favorites Tag: “I Like the Challenge”
While many managers try to downplay expectations to shield their players, De la Fuente is taking the opposite approach. Spain currently sits at the top of the FIFA rankings and enters the 2026 cycle with a near-flawless qualifying record (five wins, one draw, and 21 goals scored).
“There’s no doubt that we’re among the favorites and I like that, I don’t shy away from the challenge,” De la Fuente told reporters in Barcelona. “We accept that challenge just like France, England, or Brazil. We know we’ll need a perfect performance to win, but we are focused exclusively on that goal.”
The “Magical” Lamine Yamal
A huge reason for the optimism surrounding the squad is the continued rise of Lamine Yamal. The 18-year-old sensation has been in “sweet form” for Barcelona, and De la Fuente was glowing in his assessment of the winger’s trajectory.
• Development: “Lamine is a much better footballer than he was two years ago and worse than he will be in another two years,” the coach noted, emphasizing that Yamal is still in a vital development phase despite his “magical” contributions.
• Management: De la Fuente acknowledged the concerns of Barcelona fans regarding Yamal’s workload but insisted his responsibility is to field the best possible team for Spain.
Squad Updates: Injury Woes and New Faces
The road to North America hasn’t been without its bumps. Spain is currently navigating a mini-injury crisis with key Euro 2024 stars Mikel Merino, Fabian Ruiz, and Nico Williams all sidelined.
However, the “De la Fuente system” is built on depth. The coach recently broke tradition by calling up four goalkeepers, including a first-time call-up for Barcelona’s Joan Garcia, to assess his options before the final squad announcement in June. He also expressed hope that veteran Dani Carvajal will return to peak fitness in time for the summer.
The Finalissima Controversy
The press conference wasn’t all about the future. De la Fuente also addressed the cancellation of the Finalissima against Argentina. Responding to claims from CONMEBOL that Spain “failed to show up,” the coach was blunt:
“Two teams don’t play if one doesn’t want to, and we did want to play. The venue was never an issue for us.”
Looking Ahead
After tonight’s clash with Egypt, Spain has only one more scheduled friendly—against Peru in Puebla, Mexico on June 8th—before they kick off their World Cup campaign against Cape Verde in Atlanta on June 15th.
For De la Fuente, the message to his players is simple: the World Cup started last Monday. Every drill, every meeting, and every minute on the pitch is now part of the hunt for Spain’s second star.
