World Cup 2026: ‘We Are the Best Team in the World’ – Spain Coach De la Fuente Declares After Beating France

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has boldly declared his side the best national team in the world after their impressive 2-0 victory over France in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The reigning European champions produced another polished performance to eliminate one of the tournament favourites, with Mikel Oyarzabal converting a first-half penalty before Pedro Porro sealed the win with a composed finish after the break.

The victory sends Spain into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010, where they will face either England or defending champions Argentina.

Speaking after the match, De la Fuente praised his players for their commitment, teamwork and consistency, insisting that no international side is currently better than Spain.

"Today we faced one of the best national teams in the world, but in front of them they had the best team in the world. That is different."

The Spanish coach also paid tribute to his squad for maintaining high standards throughout the tournament.

"These players deserve everything – day after day they've shown their commitment, their solidarity, their generosity, their talent. They make the difficult look easy."

Spain have enjoyed an outstanding campaign, combining disciplined defending with attractive, possession-based football to emerge as one of the standout teams at the tournament.

Opinion:

Luis de la Fuente's statement may sound bold, but Spain's performances have given him every reason to be confident. Defeating a team of France's quality with such authority is a strong statement of intent. However, football's biggest claim still awaits validation. If Spain can complete the job in the World Cup final against either England or Argentina, there will be little room to dispute their status as the world's best team. Until then, they remain the tournament's most convincing side, but one final hurdle still stands between them and football immortality.