Madrid cancels Colón fan zone screening of Spain match as heatwave intensifies

Madrid has canceled the public screening of Spain’s match in Plaza de Colón after authorities warned that extreme heat would make the event unsafe.

The Madrid city council and the Royal Spanish Football Federation said they suspended the planned fan zone and giant screen for the Spain-Arabia Saudi match, scheduled for Sunday, June 21 at 6 p.m., because of the heatwave affecting the capital. The decision comes with the Spanish weather agency Aemet keeping Madrid under an orange alert and forecasts pointing to highs of up to 39C.

Why the screening was canceled

Officials said the priority was public safety. The city has activated the emergency phase of its heat action plan, known as Calormad, while the federation said the move was intended to protect spectators, staff and support services.

The council also urged people to follow the match in a climate-controlled place and avoid prolonged exposure outdoors.

What had been planned in Colón

The giant screen in Plaza de Colón was announced on June 11 as a way for fans to follow Spain’s matches during the World Cup, but the plan had already been made conditional on weather and heat protocols.

That background matters because Colón had been set to become a public gathering point for supporters. With the heat alert intensifying, the city and the federation opted to shut down the screening rather than risk holding the event outdoors.

What happens next

At this stage, the confirmed change is the cancellation of the Colón screening and its associated fan zone activities for this match. Authorities have not announced an outdoor alternative.

The main open question is whether any replacement viewing option will be offered elsewhere or whether future public screenings will also be affected if the heatwave continues.