🎅 A very special request: Luis de la Fuente's letter to Santa Claus | OneFootball

December 24. The air smells of nougat and pine, and at the North Pole, work never stops. While millions of children put the finishing touches on their wish lists, letters from all over the world pile up on His Majesty Santa Claus’s desk, along with the wishes of the 'not-so-young' as well.

Suddenly, one envelope stands out from the pile: an official letter with the crest of the Royal Spanish Football Federation. The sender is someone with a clear vision and ambitious goals: Luis de la Fuente.

The Spanish national team coach, after a successful 2025, knows that the coming year is the decisive one and has crucial requests ahead of the 2026 World Cup. This is the full content of his letter to Santa Claus.

Dear Santa Claus,

I write to you after a year that will go down in the history of the Spanish National Team. If 2024 was the year of surprises and the European Championship, then 2025 has been the year of consolidation and authority. Despite that setback in the Nations League, we secured our qualification for the 2026 World Cup with confidence and have seen the new generation not only mature, but dominate.

I want to sincerely thank you that 2025 has brought us the consistency we so longed for and, above all, that you have kept our key players healthy. Now, with 2026 just around the corner, and with the biggest challenge of all ahead, my requests are more specific and crucial than ever.

That everyone arrives healthy

I insist again because it’s my obsession. The 2026 World Cup starts in January. I need to avoid any serious scares for our key players during the final stretch of the club season.

📸 OZAN KOSE - AFP or licensors

We need Nico, Lamine, Rodri, Pedri, and all those who will form the backbone of La Roja to arrive at the World Cup camp fresh, healthy, and without carrying any injuries. Success depends on physical condition.

The Finalissima will be crucial

There’s a date marked in red: the Finalissima against world champions Argentina. It’s the ultimate litmus test. We want that trophy, not just for the prestige, but because it represents the chance to measure ourselves against the best on the planet before the World Cup.

I ask you for mental strength and tactical clarity so that my players can execute a perfect match and we can lift that intercontinental trophy, showing that we are ready for what comes next.

Making history in North America 🏆

This is the greatest wish. May 2026 be the year this generation earns the right to be compared to the class of 2010. I ask for luck at key moments, maximum focus in knockout matches, and the ability to adapt to the circumstances of the tournament.

We want to make a great run, go far, and for Spanish football to feel proud of the commitment, play, and ambition we will show in every match of the 2026 World Cup.

Thank you in advance for your attention. May the magic never be missing in homes and, of course, in the national team’s locker room.

With hope for an unforgettable 2026,

Luis de la Fuente

Head Coach of Spain

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.

📸 GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE