Madrid fills with screens to watch Spain–France outdoors

The main meeting point will be Plaza de Colón, turned into Plaza Selección during the tournament. There, the Real Federación Española de Fútbol and Madrid City Council have prepared a free space to follow Spain’s matches, with giant screens, activities for all audiences, music, an official shop, a trophy exhibition and food and drink offerings.

Entry at Colón will be free until capacity is reached, so it is advisable to arrive with plenty of time to spare. For a semi-final, the forecast is that the space will fill early, especially because of the time of the match and the appeal of an event that could take Spain to the World Cup final.

Madrid Río will also be one of the key places. The Puente del Rey esplanade will have two giant screens installed in the central area of the bridge, with main standing areas in front of each screen and side spaces for those who prefer to watch from a little farther away.

Access to Puente del Rey will open several hours before the match to avoid last-minute crowds. The recommendation is to arrive by public transport, especially via Príncipe Pío, and travel light in order to move more easily between checks, entrances and public areas.

Another outdoor option will be Rita’s Mirador Fan Park, on the outer platform of the Riyadh Air Metropolitano. The space combines a giant screen, music, bars, food and an afternoon-party atmosphere, with free access after registration. It is an alternative for those seeking an experience closer to a party than a simple broadcast.

Autocine Madrid also joins the World Cup atmosphere with its Operación Mundial proposal, turning national-team matches into a plan with a big screen, DJ, entertainment, food trucks, bars and activities such as table football or a penalty area. In this case, access depends on availability and the venue’s own conditions.

Outside the capital, municipalities such as Las Rozas and Majadahonda have outdoor screens in Plaza de España, with a fan-zone atmosphere and activities before the match. For many residents in the north-west, it may be a more convenient option than travelling to central Madrid.

The semi-final will not only be watched in bars or at home: it will fill squares, esplanades and terraces turned into improvised stands. Madrid will experience Spain–France as a night for the city, with thousands of people organising their plans around the opening whistle, public transport and the possibility of celebrating a historic qualification together.