The Story Continues: Luis de la Fuente Until 2032

Luis de la Fuente will remain at the helm of the Spain national team until 2032. The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) Board of Directors, led by president Rafael Louzán, has approved the head coach’s contract extension, adding six more years to his tenure with the national team and continuing a chapter that has already become part of Spanish football history.

The much-anticipated announcement comes just two months after De la Fuente led Spain to their second World Cup, won on 19 July in New Jersey against Argentina. The Riojan coach’s contract extension through 2032 confirms the RFEF’s confidence in the head coach and his staff, who have guided the national team through one of the most successful periods in its history and returned Spain to number one in the FIFA World Ranking.

His first major success came in 2023, when Spain won the UEFA Nations League after defeating Croatia in Rotterdam. One year later, the team lifted another trophy: on 14 July 2024, Spain were crowned European champions after defeating England in the Berlin final, completing a perfect tournament with a 100 per cent winning record and adding a fourth European Championship to their honours.

On 19 July 2026, exactly eleven years after De la Fuente won his first title with Spain—the 2015 UEFA European Under-19 Championship—Spain were crowned world champions in New Jersey. In his 50th match in charge of the senior national team, the Haro-born coach completed the circle and guided Spain to their second World Cup star.

Since taking charge in December 2022, Spain have reached the final of every tournament they have contested.

The victory over Argentina also had a remarkable statistical consequence on the global stage: Spain reached 38 consecutive competitive matches without defeat, setting a new world record recognised by the Guinness World Records. The run, which began on 26 March 2024 against Brazil, accompanied Spain through their EURO 2024 and 2026 World Cup triumphs, culminating on the biggest stage imaginable.

On an individual level, Luis de la Fuente has achieved remarkable figures. In his first 50 matches in charge of the senior national team, he recorded 38 victories, giving him a 76 per cent win rate and matching the highest percentage recorded by a Spain head coach to date.

He was recently nominated for the Ballon d’Or as the best coach of 2026.

Behind the titles, records and statistics lies one word that Luis de la Fuente repeats time and again: family. The head coach has built much of his philosophy around humility, unity and the importance of people. For him, success cannot be explained solely by footballing talent, but by the ability to build a group in which every member feels valued and committed to a common goal.

With his contract extended through 2032, the RFEF is continuing with a head coach and staff who, after conquering Europe and the world, now embark on a new cycle built on hard work, humility, unity and team spirit.

LUIS DE LA FUENTE 2032 CEREMONY

Following the official announcement of Luis de la Fuente’s contract extension at the helm of the national team, the head coach joined RFEF president Rafael Louzán for the signing ceremony held on Field A at Ciudad del Fútbol.

Rafael Louzán was the first to speak, expressing his happiness with the agreement and his affection for De la Fuente and his coaching staff, saying: “He will continue along the path that has taken us to glory and made us so happy. This is about people, and Luis is exceptional: he has everything and is a role model for Spanish society.”

Next came Luis de la Fuente, who underlined the ambition that has driven his team to continental and global success: “We have to keep improving, compete in order to keep winning, with the conviction that the best is always yet to come.”

After the president and head coach had spoken, an emotional video looking back at Luis de la Fuente’s successful journey with Spain’s various national teams was shown, culminating in his achievements with the senior side.

Former Spain head coach Vicente del Bosque and internationals Rodrigo Hernández, Unai Simón and Mikel Merino also joined the celebrations, offering words of affection and gratitude to Luis de la Fuente and congratulating him on his “well-deserved renewal”.

The ceremony concluded with a family photograph of the head coach, posing in a Spain shirt alongside Rafael Louzán, Aitor Karanka and all the members of his coaching staff—Juanjo González, Miguel Ángel España, Carlos Cruz, Alberto de la Fuente, Pablo Peña and Javier López Vallejo.