De la Fuente condemns Argentina's behavior after World Cup 2026 final

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has spoken out about the behavior of Argentina players after the World Cup 2026 final, stating that the incidents that occurred on the field were 'unacceptable and inadmissible'.

The controversy erupted at the 'Nyu-York Nyu-Djersi' stadium, immediately after Spain was declared the champion for the second time in history, winning 1:0 in extra time.

The altercation centered around Nauel Molina and Leandro Paredes. Molina clashed with Rodrigo, while Paredes got into a verbal argument with Eric Garcia and also reportedly exchanged words with Gavi.

'I didn't understand what was happening at the time. I was celebrating the victory, hugging my players,' De la Fuente said in an interview with Spanish television. 'But no matter what the situation, this is inexcusable. There's no place for this. The players I've praised before, and still praise, high-level players, under an excellent coach - I'm sure they also take these reactions as seriously as we do.'

De la Fuente also highlighted the behavior of his own players on the field, stating that they were subjected to 'insults and acts of aggression', 'provocations' that could have led to more serious confrontations.

The on-field altercation was captured on video and quickly spread on social media. However, so far, no official disciplinary actions have been taken against the Argentine players. FIFA has launched an investigation into the incidents to determine if the world football governing body's code of conduct was breached.