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Colón will not show Spain's final group-stage match
Plaza de Colón will not show Spain's final 2026 World Cup group-stage match on a giant screen. The match between Uruguay and Spain, scheduled for 02:00 in the early hours of Saturday 27 June, is excluded from the live viewing because of its timing.
The RFEF is keeping the Plaza Selección at Colón open, but it will operate differently for this match day. The venue will open this Saturday from 12 noon to 6:30 pm, with activities for fans, although the early-morning match will not be shown on the giant screen.
The decision marks a clear difference from Spain's first two matches in the tournament. For the fixtures against Cape Verde and Saudi Arabia, both scheduled for 6 pm, Colón did function as a meeting point for following the national team in a fan-zone atmosphere.
Uruguay is a different case. As it is being played in the early hours in peninsular time, the square will not operate as a broadcast space. Those who want to follow the match live will have to do so on television, official platforms or private venues that remain open at those hours.
The situation may create doubts among fans because Colón appears on the Plaza Selección calendar for 27 June. The key lies in the nuance: the venue will be open during the day, but the Uruguay-Spain match will not be broadcast live during the early hours.
The match also has sporting importance. Spain concludes the group stage against Uruguay in an important duel to determine its position and subsequent World Cup tie. The national team is seeking to secure the best possible route before entering the knockout rounds.
For Madrid, the absence of a giant screen changes the usual plan for many followers. Colón had once again become a gathering place for experiencing Spain's matches collectively, with screens, music, activities and a football atmosphere in the heart of the city.
The early hours, however, require another way of following it. Bars, pubs, nightclubs, private homes and online broadcasts will be alternatives for those who want to see the match without waiting for the following day's highlights.
Plaza Selección will remain a meeting point this Saturday, but without the tension of live coverage. Its midday opening will serve more as a space for World Cup atmosphere than as a place to watch the night's key match.
Spain's final group-stage fixture thus leaves an unusual picture: Madrid will have a fan zone at Colón, but no giant screen for the match. This time, the kick-off time matters more than the desire to fill the square.