Luis de la Fuente Makes Semifinal Appearances a Habit with Spain
Luis de la Fuente has once again guided Spain into the final four of a major tournament. The head coach now boasts an incredible 37-match unbeaten streak in official games and has made reaching the semifinals a trademark throughout his career with Spain's national teams.
When it comes to Luis de la Fuente, success has become the standard. Since beginning his coaching career within the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), the Spanish manager has consistently led his teams deep into major tournaments, reaching at least the semifinals every time. That remarkable trend continues at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Spain has once again secured a place among the world's top four teams.
The Spanish coach enters Tuesday's semifinal against France riding a 37-match unbeaten streak in official competitions, further highlighting the extraordinary run of a generation that has already captured the 2023 UEFA Nations League and UEFA Euro 2024, and is now chasing World Cup glory.
A Coaching Era Defined by Titles and Records
Since taking charge of Spain's senior national team at the end of 2022, Luis de la Fuente has continued to build an impressive résumé. His only defeat in a final came in the 2025 UEFA Nations League, when Spain fell to Portugal in a penalty shootout after drawing through 120 minutes.
Aside from that setback, his record has been outstanding. Since June 2023, Spain has posted 30 wins and seven draws in official matches while scoring 96 goals and conceding just 26. The streak surpasses the official unbeaten run achieved by Italy under Roberto Mancini, cementing this Spanish squad as one of the strongest international teams of the modern era.
The success did not begin with the senior team. Before earning the promotion, De la Fuente won both the UEFA European Under-19 and Under-21 Championships with Spain, while also leading the country's Olympic team to the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.
France Awaits in Another Defining Test
The next challenge comes against a familiar opponent. France has crossed paths with Luis de la Fuente on several occasions across different age groups, and more recently Spain eliminated the French in both the UEFA Euro 2024 semifinals and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.
Led by stars such as Lamine Yamal, Pedri, Rodri, Dani Olmo, Mikel Merino, and Unai Simón, Spain believes it has everything needed to continue making history. A victory in Dallas would not only send La Roja into the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, but would also match the longest unbeaten run ever recorded by a national team while further strengthening the legacy of a coach who has turned semifinal appearances into an expectation rather than an achievement.
