The City of Madrid has called off the planned public screening of Spain’s upcoming World Cup football match against Saudi Arabia in Colón Plaza, citing extreme heat risks. The move follows an orange alert for high temperatures from the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (Aemet), with forecasts predicting up to 39 degrees Celsius in the capital this weekend. The Ayuntamiento de Madrid and the Real Federación Española de Fútbol (RFEF) announced their joint decision through official channels on Friday.
Just five days earlier, thousands of fans gathered in Colón Plaza, draped in Spanish flags and wearing sun hats and sunglasses, to watch Spain’s opening match against Cabo Verde. A similar turnout was expected this Sunday for the 18:00 kickoff against Saudi Arabia. But as the heatwave intensified, authorities suspended all Fan Zone activities, including the live broadcast on the tournament’s giant screen, to protect public safety.
The RFEF had installed the screen in Colón Plaza to show Spain’s World Cup matches scheduled to begin before 22:00. The city council and federation are urging supporters to watch from air-conditioned venues and follow instructions from emergency and civil protection services. Vice-Mayor Inma Sanz had previously warned that outdoor screenings would depend on weather conditions and municipal protocols, particularly during periods of extreme heat.
Madrid has also activated phase 1 of its high-temperature emergency plan, CALORMAD. The Fan Zone, a dedicated area beside the screen designed to accommodate thousands of supporters, was recently inaugurated by actor Tom Holland. All scheduled events there are suspended until further notice. The decision reflects how weather planning shapes large sporting gatherings, as seen in other event adaptations, including the Brno MotoGP circuit’s return to the calendar after a four-year hiatus (read more about recent event adaptations here).
Aemet’s Meteoalerta system issues detailed warnings for adverse weather, including high temperatures, across Spanish territories for forecast periods of up to 72 hours. It updates alerts as conditions change. The agency issues forecasts at different geographic levels, while its observation service reports hourly readings and daily extremes from weather stations. A forecast high of 39°C differs from a station’s recorded maximum. Against the risk of extreme heat, suspending the Colón Plaza screening shows why outdoor event plans need to account for the safety of people attending large gatherings.
