Spain's World Cup‑winning coach de la Fuente declares solidarity

Spain, world football champions, will meet the English national team on September 26 in the Nations League in England. Coach Luis de la Fuente used the squad announcement to emphasise his solidarity with Ceuta and said: “Today I feel more than ever as a Caballa and Ceutí.”

Criticism of Real‑Madrid players

Journalists asked de la Fuente about a political issue concerning Real‑Madrid players Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Ibrahim Konaté. Ahead of a league match at FC Elche, both teams wore shirts bearing the slogan “Todos somos caballas” as part of a campaign initiated by entrepreneurs. However, Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior and Konaté rolled up the shirts, so the slogan was not fully visible, and removed them again before the opponents’ greeting. Conservative and far‑right circles interpreted the action as a lack of solidarity with the inhabitants of Ceuta and leveled the same accusation against the left‑wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.

Kylian Mbappé rejected the criticism and indirectly lamented a lack of compassion for the migrants. His remark made clear that he considered the accusations unfounded.

At the end of July, the arrival of tens of thousands of migrants plunged Ceuta into a humanitarian crisis. The coach used the issue to underline his connection with the North African enclave.

For the Nations League, Luis de la Fuente again called up 22 players who were already part of the World Cup squad.

“La Roja” will start on September 26 in England, followed by home matches against Croatia on September 29 and the Czech Republic on October 3. The international series ends on October 6 with an away match against Croatia.