Madrid cancels giant public screening for Spain match because of heat

Madrid has canceled a giant public screening of Spain's match against Saudi Arabia in Plaza de Colón after an orange heat alert and forecast temperatures of up to 39C forced officials to prioritize crowd safety.

The screening was due to take place on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at 18:00 local time. It had been set up as part of Madrid's fan zone for Spain's World Cup matches.

Heat forces cancellation

El País reported on June 20 that Madrid city officials and the Real Federación Española de Fútbol suspended the viewing event because of the heatwave. Cadena SER and HuffPost España reported the same cancellation, citing the same public-safety concerns.

The decision came with Madrid under an orange weather alert. Reporting said the forecast called for temperatures as high as 39C, making the outdoor gathering unsafe for large crowds.

Officials advised supporters to follow the match from air-conditioned spaces instead.

A plan that depended on the weather

Madrid had announced on June 11 that Plaza de Colón would host a giant screen so fans could watch Spain's matches together in the city center.

That earlier plan made clear the setup could be canceled if weather protocols were activated. Reporting at the time also said the screenings were intended for Spain matches kicking off before 22:00.

The June 20 cancellation also affected the rest of the planned activities in the Colón fan zone, not just the screening itself.

What happens next

For now, the public viewing event is off because of the heat. The reporting does not say whether Madrid or the RFEF have issued any separate written notice beyond the news coverage, or whether the cancellation will be extended to later Spain screenings if the heat alert eases.

Madrid had also previously indicated that a second screen could be installed at Puente del Rey if Spain reached the quarter-finals.