The planned public viewing of Spain’s World Cup clash against Saudi Arabia in Madrid has been scrapped due to extreme heat warnings, officials announced.
Originally set to commence at 6 PM local time on Sunday, the match was to be broadcast on a large screen arranged by the Spanish football federation (RFEF) in a fan zone located in Plaza de Colón, central Madrid.
Following an orange heat alert—indicating severe weather—from the national meteorological agency AEMET, which predicts temperatures soaring to 40°C, both the Madrid city council and the federation opted to cancel the screening.
Health and Safety Precautions
In a statement, Madrid city hall emphasized that the decision was made to prioritize the health of attendees, event staff, and support services involved. They expressed regret for any inconvenience caused.
Authorities advised fans to enjoy the match in air-conditioned environments and to minimize their exposure to the heat.
Spain is currently experiencing an unusual heatwave for June as hot air from North Africa sweeps across the Iberian Peninsula. A total of 13 out of Spain’s 17 regions are under an orange alert, while the Basque Country, bordering France, faces a red alert, the highest level of caution.
Residents and visitors have been urged to take necessary precautions amid the heatwave, including drinking water frequently, staying cool, limiting outdoor activities during peak heat hours, and being particularly careful with vulnerable individuals.
Match Preview: Spain vs Saudi Arabia
As the match approaches, questions arise about whether Saudi Arabia can replicate their stunning performance from the 2022 World Cup.
“The decision has been taken with the aim of protecting the health of attendees, event staff and support services involved in the event,”
Unai Simon’s selection over David Raya is a point of contention for coach De la Fuente, as the Arsenal keeper could stake a claim as one of Europe’s finest this season.
“Those at the Champions League final had a few more days, so I got there on the Wednesday night,” Raya shares. “I arrived a bit before Fabián [Ruiz]. I was saying hello to some of the others in reception when he arrived. I went to say congratulations; that was almost the first thing I did. I couldn’t really talk [to him] after the final; I just didn’t have it in me. The next day we talked about the game properly. Just two mates chatting … I was happy for him that he could lift the trophy for a second time.”
Spain’s Performance and Future Challenges
Spain faces immense pressure as European champions, with Sid Lowe reporting on their latest match struggles.
“If we had scored one, the game would have changed,” Martín Zubimendi stated. Immediately following the match, De la Fuente provided a straightforward analysis: when the ball doesn’t want to go in it doesn’t want to go in, he insisted. Spain had recorded a staggering 27 shots, with Ferran Torres hitting the bar and another clear chance saved. Vozinha, the 40-year-old goalkeeper who thwarted that opportunity, made six additional saves and was named man of the match. “There’s nothing to reproach the team for,” Rodri stated. “We generated chances but couldn’t put it away; the good thing is they created almost nothing.”
Looking ahead, the role of Lamine Yamal in the upcoming match remains a point of interest for his coach, who hopes to utilize the young talent effectively.
“The worst mistake we could make would be to compare him to anyone. He is in the midst of a process. He has exceptional footballing maturity and lives it all with total naturalness. He has great serenity and strength. We have to let him follow his path, but those players who have something different are ready for that. They’re geniuses, like Dalí [who] can paint a picture, or Michelangelo. They’re different. What is exceptional to us isn’t to them. In those extremes, they feel comfortable. Why? Because they are different. What we think is exceptional, they consider normal.”
Spain’s journey has not begun as strongly as hoped, and Luis de la Fuentes may find himself haunted by Vozinha’s performance from Cape Verde. With Saudi Arabia demonstrating competitive spirit by challenging Uruguay in their opener, Spain must tread carefully. Memories of their 2022 upset against Argentina linger, and they cannot afford to enter their decisive match against Uruguay at a disadvantage.
The kick-off is scheduled for 5 PM UK time, 1 PM ET, and 2 AM AEST. Join us for the action.
