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Lionel Scaloni Admits Spain Were the Better Team After Emotional Homecoming
Lionel Scaloni received an emotional welcome in his hometown of Pujato following the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Argentina coach fought back tears and once again acknowledged Spain's superiority in the final.
Scaloni Received a Hero's Welcome in Pujato
Lionel Scaloni returned to his hometown of Pujato, where hundreds of supporters gathered to welcome him after leading Argentina to another FIFA World Cup final.
Clearly emotional, the Argentina head coach struggled to hold back tears as he thanked fans for their support and admitted the pain of falling just short of defending the world title still lingers.
Scaloni Once Again Praised Spain
During his remarks, Scaloni repeated the message he delivered immediately after the final, acknowledging that Spain deserved to lift the trophy after producing the better performance.
"Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't. We have to recognize that Spain played better. That makes us better as well," Scaloni said.
The World Cup-winning coach also stressed that Argentina competed until the very end and pushed Spain despite facing a team that ultimately proved to be superior on the biggest stage.

Argentina Fans Want Scaloni to Stay
The homecoming also became a show of support for the man who guided Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and another final four years later.
Fans repeatedly chanted, "Leo isn't leaving!" as they urged Scaloni to remain in charge of the national team. His current contract with the Argentine Football Association is set to expire in December, leaving his future uncertain.
Will Scaloni Continue as Argentina Head Coach?
Although Scaloni stopped short of confirming whether he will sign a new deal, he left the door open to continuing his project with Argentina.
"I'm here until December. We'll keep fighting," the coach said, offering little clarity about what comes next.
After winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup and reaching another final in 2026, Scaloni has already secured his place among the greatest managers in Argentina's history. Whether he remains in charge for the next cycle is now one of the country's biggest football questions.












