Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni walked out of his post-match press conference in tears on Sunday after his team lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. The 1-0 defeat came in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Scaloni became emotional while answering questions about his future with the team.
Scaloni has led Argentina since 2018. His team won the 2022 World Cup and reached another final in 2026. During the conference, he was asked about continuing in the role. His contract with the Argentine Football Association ends in December. Scaloni said he plans to speak with the association president. He added that he has some ideas about what he wants to do next but needs time to think. He noted that building another group like this one would be difficult.
As he spoke, Scaloni paused several times. His voice broke and he fought back tears. He said the position has been a dream and thanked the president for the opportunity. He also mentioned the need to reset after such an experience. Scaloni apologized to the reporters in the room and then left the conference early. He stated that it hurts his soul and that he was sorry.
The loss marked the end of Argentina's recent run of success in major tournaments. Spain took control of the match and scored the only goal through Ferran Torres in the 106th minute. Argentina played with 10 men for part of extra time after a red card. Scaloni has worked with a core group of players including Lionel Messi during his time in charge. The coach has been linked with the team for several successful years.
No further details about Scaloni's future plans were provided at the conference. The Argentine team will now focus on future competitions while Scaloni considers his next steps.