Lionel Scaloni broke down in tears for a second time over Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain as he returned to a hero’s welcome in his home town – but refused to commit his long-term future to the national team.
The Argentina head coach, who also wept in the post-match press conference after the 2026 World Cup final, was visibly emotional again during a reception in Pujato, in the province of Santa Fe, where hundreds gathered to salute him after the team’s return from the United States.
‘The pain is great’
Addressing fans in the town where he grew up, Scaloni admitted the loss to Spain in the final still hurt deeply.
“We didn’t manage to win. We know that we play to make our people happy, and for that reason the pain is great,” Scaloni said, in comments highlighted by Spanish newspaper AS on Tuesday.
The coach, who led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and the Copa America before reaching this year’s final, struggled to hold back tears as he spoke about the defeat and the weight of expectation carried by his team.
“In some moments you win, and in others you lose. We have to admit that Spain played better, and that makes us better as well,” he added, giving a frank assessment of the final in which Spain denied Argentina back-to-back world titles.
‘We fight to the end’
Scaloni insisted his players had battled until the last moments of the match despite being second best for stretches of the game.
“The feeling is always the same, which is that we fight until the end when things don’t go as we want,” he said.
“We Argentines must understand that the opponent also plays, and may be better than you, but even so we made it difficult for them.”
His words echoed the message he delivered in the immediate aftermath of the final, when he praised his squad’s character while acknowledging Spain’s superiority on the day.
Contract running down
Scaloni’s contract with the Argentine Football Association is due to expire in December, and his future has become a major talking point since the defeat in the final.
His comments after the match against Spain sparked intense speculation that his cycle in charge of the national side could be coming to an end, after a period that brought multiple trophies and restored Argentina to the summit of world football.
So far, however, the 46-year-old has stopped short of announcing a departure.
“I am continuing until December, and we will keep fighting,” he said in Pujato, hinting at a commitment to see out his existing deal but giving no guarantee beyond that.
Fans chant for Scaloni to stay
During the homecoming celebration, supporters made clear they did not want the architect of Argentina’s recent success to walk away.
Crowds repeatedly chanted: “Leo won’t leave!” in an attempt to convince Scaloni to remain in charge of the “Albiceleste” beyond the end of his current contract.
The reception underscored how his status has been transformed from a low-profile, initially doubted appointment in 2018 to one of the most successful coaches in Argentina’s history.
Despite the disappointment of losing the 2026 final, Scaloni has overseen a golden era that includes the 2021 Copa America title, the 2022 Finalissima, and Argentina’s first World Cup crown in 36 years at Qatar 2022.
For now, though, the man who helped deliver those triumphs is wrestling with the pain of coming so close to another world title – and keeping the football world guessing over what comes next for him and for Argentina.
