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Spain secured their place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after a 2-0 victory over France on Tuesday, adding to the team’s long list of achievements in sport, at all levels.
“Women’s football, youth tournaments, the Olympics… I lost a final against them,” World Cup winner Thierry Henry said of Spain after the match. “Again and again, they come.
“They have an identity, a philosophy, they all play the same way at all levels.”
(Photo by Juan Luis Díaz/Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
In the last three years, the men’s team has won the 2023 UEFA Nations League, the 2024 Euro Cup and the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games. Spain is almost in the middle of the longest unbeaten streak in the history of international football with 37 unbeaten matches.
Meanwhile, the women’s team won its first World Cup in 2023 and a UEFA National League title in 2025. It reached the final of the 2025 European Championship, but lost to England on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Their shared success is no coincidence, according to Henry.
“They have an identity, a philosophy, they all play the same way at every level,” Henry said. “The coach knows exactly what the system is like, you can see, this is a team with stars.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has coached 14 games in total in the World Cup and Euro Cup, winning 13 and drawing one, which is the most games coached without losing for a European coach. Before taking charge of the Spanish men’s team, he coached Spain in the youth categories (U19, U21 and U23) for nine years.
(Photo by Paul ELLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Henry believes De la Fuente’s ability to enjoy immediate success in the top flight is a testament to Spain’s tactical philosophy.
“When Spain has the ball, they don’t give it back to you, you have to go get it,” Henry said. “I want to give credit to the system and what they implemented. Because Spain never used to win like that. And now they win at every level.”
Spain will play against the winner of the Argentina vs. match. England for the World Cup title on Sunday at New York New Jersey Stadium.
