Two days before the World Cup final, Lionel Scaloni walked across a stage at a fan event in New York and embraced Luis de la Fuente. The moment, witnessed by thousands at the FIFA Fanatics Fest, was the first time both finalist coaches had appeared jointly before a tournament showpiece. Amid the chaos of celebrity appearances and selfie-seeking crowds, the pair exchanged words that neither would later disclose. Scaloni described the setting as “surreal”; De la Fuente called it a reunion he was happy to have. The embrace rekindled a relationship that began nearly a decade earlier in a Madrid classroom.

In 2017, a newly retired Scaloni enrolled for his UEFA Pro coaching licence at the Spanish Football Federation’s academy in Las Rozas. De la Fuente, then Spain’s under-19 manager, taught two modules: Evolution of Football and Team Building. Argentine media recall that Scaloni sat in the front row, took meticulous notes, and, when he disagreed, would challenge his instructor with a firm “No lo veo” — I don’t see it. The course also included Xavi, Xabi Alonso, Raúl, and Fernando Redondo. De la Fuente later described the classroom dynamic as a schoolroom, with the studious at the front and the restless behind. Scaloni finished among the top five in his cohort.

Both men followed strikingly similar paths. They played as full-backs, won Spanish league titles, and assumed control of their national teams after disappointing World Cup campaigns, having first proven themselves in youth setups. Scaloni guided Argentina to the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles; De la Fuente led Spain to the 2024 European Championship and the 2023 Nations League. Each faced early scepticism: in Argentina, Diego Maradona quipped that Scaloni “couldn’t even direct traffic”; in Spain, De la Fuente was largely unknown outside federation circles. A planned Finalissima meeting in March was cancelled due to scheduling conflicts, leaving the final as their first touchline encounter.

Speaking before the match, both coaches acknowledged their mutual respect while drawing tactical distinctions. Scaloni noted that De la Fuente “knows me personally, but he doesn’t know what I’m thinking about football,” and observed that while both teams seek possession and attack, Spain builds with more patience and Argentina accelerates with greater verticality. De la Fuente, for his part, repeated the word “admiración” three times when asked about his former pupil. Spanish press reports highlight that the two have not spoken since the pre-match event, preserving competitive distance until after the final whistle.

On Sunday at MetLife Stadium, the teacher and the pupil will stand in opposite technical areas for the first time. The match will determine whether Scaloni adds a second World Cup title on the soil of his adopted home, or De la Fuente secures the one major trophy missing from his collection. The embrace that opened the week will resume only once the outcome is decided.