Failing to win the World Cup title, Lionel Scaloni praised Spain's performance in the 2026 World Cup Final.

Monday, 20 July 2026 | 14:00

Author: Respaty Gilang

Ilustrasi Lionel Scaloni.
Source: ChatGPT AI

Summary

1. Lionel Scaloni acknowledged that Spain delivered a superior performance and rightfully earned the 2026 World Cup championship title.

2. Argentina suffered a 0-1 defeat from Ferran Torres' goal scored in the 106th minute, and competed with only 10 players on the pitch after Enzo Fernandez was shown a red card.

3. Even though Argentina failed to defend their world title, Scaloni expressed pride over his squad's fight that successfully carried the team all the way to the tournament final.

Argentina national team head coach Lionel Scaloni has acknowledged that Spain deserved to be crowned 2026 World Cup champions after putting on a superior performance in the final match held at MetLife Stadium, New Jersey, on local Sunday time.

Argentina was forced to surrender the championship trophy after suffering a narrow 0-1 defeat to Spain, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal in the 106th minute of extra time. This loss also ended La Albiceleste's bid to defend the title they won in the previous tournament edition.

"They [Spain] were the better side. That is the reality," Scaloni stated, as quoted from FIFA's official website on Monday.

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The 48-year-old coach admitted he was disappointed with his team's final result. Even so, he emphasized that all players had given their absolute best throughout the tournament, which allowed Argentina to once again reach the final match.

Scaloni added that there are still many things he wishes to address regarding Argentina's journey throughout the 2026 World Cup. However, he stated that this is not the right moment to discuss all of those matters.

"I want to express my deepest gratitude to all of them, for getting us back to the World Cup final and fighting right until the very end," Scaloni explained.

During the final match, Argentina found themselves in an increasingly difficult situation after being reduced to 10 men. Midfielder Enzo Fernandez was sent off by the referee right at the end of normal time following a second yellow card.

Despite the defeat, Scaloni believes that Argentina's achievement of reaching consecutive World Cup finals remains an accomplishment worthy of recognition. He hopes that the players will remain proud of the fight they have shown throughout the entire competition.

"We carried ourselves with dignity when we won, and we must also carry ourselves with dignity when we lose. Today we have shown that we know how to accept defeat," Scaloni remarked.

"We lost this match, we acknowledge that. But that will never take away from all the effort we put in to get to this point," he concluded.

FAQ

What did Lionel Scaloni say about Spain after the 2026 World Cup final?

Lionel Scaloni publicly acknowledged that Spain delivered a superior performance and rightfully earned the 2026 World Cup championship title.

What was the final score of the 2026 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain?

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive winning goal in the 106th minute of extra time.

Why did Argentina play with 10 players during the final match?

Argentina was reduced to 10 men after midfielder Enzo Fernandez received a red card from a second yellow card at the end of normal match time.

How did Scaloni respond to Argentina failing to defend their World Cup title?

While disappointed with the result, Scaloni expressed deep pride in his squad, stating reaching consecutive World Cup finals remains a respected achievement.