Luis de la Fuente feels his “unbeatable” Spain side are the best team in the world.
Spain booked their spot in the World Cup final by dispatching favourites France 2-0 at Dallas Stadium.
Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro were on target in a convincing victory for La Roja, who reached the final for just the second time in their history. They previously won the World Cup in 2010.
The European champions went into the tournament as the Opta supercomputer’s favourites, though after an unconvincing display against Cape Verde on MD1, they were usurped by France.
Spain are aiming to become the first team since they themselves held both the Euros and World Cup titles, after making it 37 matches unbeaten, which equals the longest such run in international football, level with Italy.
And De la Fuente has no doubt about his side’s quality.
“We’re feeling unbeatable,” De La Fuente told reporters.
“They [France] faced the best team in the world. We have that edge.
“These players deserve everything because day after day, they demonstrate their commitment, their generosity, their solidarity, and their talent.
“It is wonderful to watch them play. Today was a spectacle. What seems difficult, this team makes it look easy.
France 0-2 Spain
The European champions are looking very much like suitable world champions. pic.twitter.com/mm0vpZ8662
— Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) July 14, 2026
“We knew we had to improve little by little.
“We would have loved to win the first game but it’s a process.
“It was planned for us to reach the key moments in the best shape possible. We are in great shape and in terms of our football level, we have reached our peak.”
Spain followed up a 0-0 draw with Cape Verde by beating Saudi Arabia 4-0 and Uruguay 1-0 in the groups, before subsequently defeating Austria, Portugal, Belgium and France.
They have conceded just once, and among European nations to contest at least two major tournament semi-final ties, Spain have the best progression rate, progressing from seven of their eight (88%).
Spain are the first team in World Cup history to keep six clean sheets at a single edition, and the expected goals (xG) figure of 0.3 they faced against France is the fewest by a nation in a semi-final tie in the competition since Brazil vs Sweden in 1994 (0.1).
La Roja are also the first European team ever to win eight consecutive knockout stage matches at major tournaments.
They will face either Lionel Messi’s Argentina, or England, who Spain beat in the Euro 2024 final, in Sunday’s showpiece match at New York New Jersey Stadium.
“Right now we don’t prefer one or the other,” said De La Fuente.
‘They have different characteristics. I would be excited to face Argentina because I’m a close friend of Lionel Scaloni but I really like England as well. We welcome either of them with open arms.”
