2026 World Cup

2026 World Cup: Del Bosque warns Spain not to underestimate Argentina

Former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said the opponent is a real nuisance but predicts a 'Matador' victory in the final

Ahmed Hassan

18 July 2026 • Updated: 18 July 2026

İSTANBUL

Istanbul / Ahmed Hassan / Anadolu Agency

Former Spain coach Vicente del Bosque warned his players not to underestimate Argentina ahead of the World Cup final, describing the opponents as a "real nuisance" and urging the Spanish 'Matador' to be cautious.

Del Bosque, who led Spain to the World Cup title in 2010 when they beat the Netherlands 1-0 in South Africa, told El País on Saturday: "Argentina is a tough team to play against; they are a real nuisance, so to speak, and they know exactly what they need to do."

Del Bosque pointed to Argentina's comeback win against England as evidence of their quality.

He added: "I predict a Spain victory in the final, but they must be wary of the Argentines, given how tough they are to face and their experience. We have all played with Argentine players and know how tough and competitive they are."

On assessing Lamine Yamal's performance with the team, Del Bosque said: "He is a very appealing player, and he has all the attributes to become an excellent player, and he will. He is enjoyable to watch; his depth, his dribbling, and the way he opens up the pitch... And because of what is always expected of him, we expected more from him this time."

Del Bosque (75) also praised Spain's performance in the tournament, saying: "In the matches we have seen, the game was played entirely on the national team's terms; they controlled the situation and showed confidence and composure."

The 2026 World Cup final will be held at the New York/New Jersey Stadium tomorrow, officiated by Slovenian referee Slavko Vinčić, where defending champions Argentina face European champions Spain for the biggest prize in football.