Luis de la Fuente has taken Spain to the semifinals of the Mundial 2026 in his first World Cup as senior coach, and the numbers underline just how steady La Roja have been: five wins, one draw and only one goal conceded. That is the kind of tournament run that turns a good side into one of the favourites to lift the trophy.
For de la Fuente, the achievement carries extra weight. Born in Haro, La Rioja, on 21 June 1961, now 65 years old, he arrived at the top job after years of work inside the Real Federación Española structure and nearly a decade with Spain’s youth national teams. The RFEF named him in December 2022 after the Qatar World Cup elimination and Luis Enrique’s departure, despite doubts about his limited first-division club experience.
Since then, Spain have answered almost every question placed in front of them. They won the Nations League in June 2023, followed that with Eurocopa 2024, and now stand one step from the final in Mundial 2026. The run has been built on control, discipline and a clear sense that the team knows exactly what it is doing without the ball.
De la Fuente’s first World Cup has been a test of calm
The coach has spent much of his career away from the spotlight, but this tournament has brought his methods into full view. Spain are not simply winning; they are doing it with a defensive record that makes every opponent’s margin for error feel tiny. That is why the reference points around this team keep coming back to structure rather than spectacle.
De la Fuente himself has often spoken with the same measured tone. He said it was a joy to remember his parents, adding that they are still with him in his memory. He has also made clear that success at this level is never simple, saying: “No hay un gran logro sin sufrimiento.”
That fits the way Spain have navigated the tournament. There has been no sense of panic, even as the pressure has increased. Instead, the side have kept their shape, trusted their key players and stayed in control of the contest from one round to the next.
Why Spain’s balance keeps holding up
The strength of this team is not built on one moment alone. It is the product of continuity, with figures such as Unai Simón, Mikel Merino, Dani Olmo and Pedri all part of a side that has found a workable rhythm. Spain’s unbeaten sequence has also renewed the sense that de la Fuente understands when to protect the team and when to push it forward.
That matters because knockout football is usually decided by small details. Spain have already shown against major opponents that they can stay compact, manage danger and keep control of the game. In that sense, the campaign reflects a coach who has brought the right blend of patience and authority to the national side.
There is still work to do, of course, because a semifinal is not a final. But Spain arrive there with momentum, confidence and a record that demands respect. De la Fuente has already answered the biggest question about his appointment. The next one is whether he can turn this unbeaten run into a World Cup final place.
For more on Spain’s wider tournament momentum, see Merino drives Luis de la Fuente toward 35-game Spain run and Spain set World Cup clean-sheet record after Portugal win as Luis de la Fuente praises collective effort. Spain’s next step is laid out here: When Does Spain Play Belgium? Luis de La Fuente’s Side Head to SoFi Stadium on Friday, July 10.
