Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni has confirmed he will honour his current contract with the national team despite the South American champions’ 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 48-year-old disclosed this while speaking at Sunday’s post-match press conference, where he was visibly tearful over the loss.

He noted that he would discuss his future with the team with the Argentine Football Association.

“I will talk to the president. I have an idea of what I would like to do. I will see out my contract, and I feel the need; I don’t know if something as big can be done. We need to speak this through,” the manager stated. 

He added, “I am thankful to the president for bringing me this chance of being in this place where I am at the moment. It was a dream place for everyone. We have tried up until the very last minute to give our utmost, the staff and players. 

“I believe it’s only fair that I can take this time for myself to think this through.”

Scaloni has been the manager of the Argentina football team since 2018, and his current contract is set to expire in December. He led the team to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 

As he talked through tears, the former Argentina international added, “Bear with me, I don’t know if I can continue. This place is wonderful, it is a dream place,” he said. “We would never have imagined, including my staff, that we would be in this place.

“In order to continue, you need a great deal of things, especially resetting your mind, rebooting, creating a group like this again. That is very difficult to create again. He eventually stood up and apologised before leaving the room.”

“It’s really painful, I am very sorry,” Scaloni said before walking out of the press conference.