De la Fuente signs Spain contract extension until 2032 after World Cup win

Luis de la Fuente has secured his future as Spain's head coach until 2032 after agreeing a contract extension that will take his tenure with the national team to ten years. The 65-year-old's previous deal was set to expire in 2028, and the new agreement ensures he will lead La Roja's World Cup defence on home soil.

• De la Fuente extends his Spain contract until 2032, adding four years to his previous deal.
• The coach guided Spain to the Euro 2024 title and the World Cup crown this summer.
• Spain will defend the World Cup in 2030 as co-hosts alongside Portugal and Morocco.
• Since his appointment in December 2022, Spain have lost just two of 41 competitive matches.
• The RFEF acknowledges improving his financial terms, previously outside the top 10 of national coaches.

Ten years at the helm of the Spanish national team

De la Fuente's new contract extends his reign as Spain manager to a full decade. His previous agreement ran until 2028, a horizon now pushed back by four years, allowing him to oversee the complete cycle through to the 2032 World Cup while first managing the 2030 edition on home turf.

De la Fuente took over from Luis Enrique in December 2022, following Spain's last-16 exit at the World Cup in Qatar. Since then, the team's form has been outstanding: just two defeats in 41 competitive fixtures and a trophy haul that includes the 2022-23 Nations League, Euro 2024 and the 2025 World Cup.

An impeccable trophy record since taking charge

De la Fuente's tenure with the senior side can be summed up by three titles and one additional final appearance. Spain won the UEFA Nations League in 2022-23, claimed the European Championship in 2024 with a 2-1 victory over England in the Berlin final, and this summer lifted their second World Cup title after beating Argentina 1-0 in extra time.

In the 2024-25 Nations League, La Roja reached the final but fell to Portugal, completing a record that places the coach among the most decorated in recent Spanish football history.

What hosting the 2030 World Cup means for Spain

De la Fuente's renewal arrives at a pivotal moment for Spanish football. Spain will co-host the 24th edition of the men's World Cup in 2030 alongside Portugal and Morocco. As part of the tournament's 100th anniversary celebrations, a handful of matches are scheduled for Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay, the venues of the inaugural World Cup in 1930.

For De la Fuente, leading Spain at a home World Cup represents both a major challenge and a historic opportunity. With this agreement, the RFEF secures the continuity of a project that has restored the national team to the pinnacle of international football and will now aim to defend the world title in front of its own supporters.

From youth ranks to global success with La Roja

Before taking charge of the senior squad, De la Fuente built his reputation in Spanish youth football. He began his coaching career in the country's lower leagues and spent nine years within the RFEF's youth structure, winning the Under-19 European Championship in 2015, the Under-21 European Championship in 2019 and a silver medal at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics.

That extensive experience in the federation's development system gave him deep knowledge of many players now leading the senior team, a factor that has proved decisive in the squad's rapid adaptation to his footballing approach.

RFEF improves the coach's financial terms

RFEF president Rafael Louzán explained the reasoning behind the extension during his appearance at the World Football Summit in Madrid. Louzán emphasised that the renewal offer reflects both sporting merit and the affection De la Fuente inspires among fans.

His results speak for themselves, as does his work. The public loves and admires him. I offered him an extension because he wasn't among the top 10 in terms of financial conditions. Now he will be.

The federation chief stressed that they are finalising the agreement so De la Fuente can extend his career within the organisation, where he has spent 14 years across youth and senior levels. The salary improvement acknowledges the stature the coach has gained following recent successes.

Next test: Wembley in the Nations League

The international calendar offers no respite for Spain. La Roja's next fixture is set for 26 September, when they open their 2026-27 Nations League campaign away to England at Wembley. It will be a high-stakes reunion between two sides that met in the Euro 2024 final.

That match marks the start of a new competitive cycle for Spain, with De la Fuente now secured until 2032 and focused on consolidating a project that has transformed the national team into a global benchmark.