15,000 free tickets for Spain's World Cup final viewing at Madrid's Movistar Arena sold out in 90 minutes

Spain's return to a World Cup final after 16 years has triggered a rush for free public screening tickets in the capital. The Community of Madrid opened 15,000 passes for a viewing party at the Movistar Arena, and they were gone by Wednesday morning.

The final clash

Spain beat France on Bastille Day to reach the 2026 World Cup final, their first since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. The final will be played on Sunday 19 July at 21:00 local time at the New York New Jersey Stadium. The opponent will be decided on Thursday night, when England face Argentina in the second semi-final.

The venue and the screen setup

The viewing will take place at the Movistar Arena, the historic Palacio de los Deportes on Madrid's Plaza de Goya. A giant 16-by-9-metre screen (144 square metres) will be the focal point, with ten additional fixed screens distributed around the hall.

garantizando una experiencia envolvente para todo el público asistente, independientemente de su ubicación

The event, organised by the regional government under Isabel Díaz Ayuso, is the first World Cup screening it has arranged. The city council operates separate screens at Plaza de Colón and near Madrid Río.

Ticket frenzy

Entry is free but required a ticket downloaded from the Movistar Arena website. The virtual box office opened immediately after the semi-final ended and registered an average of 166 reservations per minute, according to the venue.

dejó todo el aforo cubierto en 90 minutos

By early Wednesday, not a single pass remained. Doors will open at 19:30 on Sunday.

Pre-match atmosphere

DJ Nano will play before kick-off to warm up the crowd. The organisers described his set as part of an effort to cheer on the Spanish national team before the opening whistle.