RFEF Shares World Cup Success with the People of Ceuta

In a day to remember, marked by solidarity, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has sought to share the historic success of the Spanish national team at the 2026 World Cup with the people of Ceuta, at a difficult time for the residents of the city.

RFEF President Rafael Louzán and Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente arrived in the Autonomous City this Friday, 4 September, where they were welcomed at the Assembly Palace by Regional President Juan Jesús Vivas, who expressed his gratitude for the visit by the RFEF delegation. The delegation also included Secretary General Álvaro de Miguel and Director of National Teams Aitor Karanka, as well as RFFC President Antonio García Gaona, who acted as host throughout the day.

After signing the institution’s guest book, Rafael Louzán and Luis de la Fuente presented the World Cup trophy to President Vivas in the Throne Room. Vivas acknowledged that “this visit touches us deeply and goes straight to the heart,” because football truly brings the country together and the World Cup victory “made us all a little happier.”

Juan Jesús Vivas watched the World Cup final live alongside thousands of Ceuta residents on a giant screen set up on Ribera Beach. In the words of the regional president, the city is setting an example of maturity and resilience despite experiencing one of the most difficult periods in its history. “I know we will come through this with determination, commitment and three of the qualities that define Ceuta: courage, coexistence and love.”

The Assembly Palace of Ceuta and the headquarters of the Royal Federation of Football of Ceuta hosted the events welcoming the World Cup trophy.

In thanking the RFEF president, Vivas highlighted that “Rafael Louzán is an example of the values of football, and that is how the success of the second star was achieved,” to which the Spanish football representative responded by expressing his gratitude to the regional president for the welcome, describing him as “an example of dignity, dedication and commitment.”

Louzán praised **“all the work carried out every day by the different figures within football, and particularly the work of the regional federations such as Ceuta’s. Winning a World Cup is a collective achievement and an immense source of joy because football is one of the things that brings a country together most. Today, precisely, we want to begin the trophy tour in this great city, which today is the heart of Spain. We are champions and we make up a great country.”

The same message was echoed by Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente, who said he was **“truly moved to return to Ceuta. Football is a school of values, and the way this city experienced the World Cup final and has dealt with the situation over recent weeks is truly admirable. The people of Ceuta have become our idols.”

Following the institutional meeting at the headquarters of the regional government, the RFEF delegation travelled to the modern headquarters of the Royal Federation of Football of Ceuta, where the RFEF president and national team head coach met representatives from every area of Ceuta’s football community. Coaches, club officials, players and referees gathered to celebrate the shared successes of the Spanish national team.

During the event, Antonio García Gaona, head of the RFFC, highlighted the significance of the visit, stressing “the importance of the support received from the RFEF president over recent weeks and the outstanding work carried out, which has led us to be admired around the world.”

Rafael Louzán echoed those sentiments, highlighting the categories in which Spain are reigning world champions, with the trophy won on 19 July representing the latest milestone in a journey that will continue this September with the return of the UEFA Nations League.

“Our intention is to showcase the diversity of our football more and more,” said the RFEF president. At the end of the meeting, Louzán and the national team head coach posed alongside all the attendees on the pitch at the Emilio Cózar Stadium, home of the Royal Federation of Football of Ceuta. There, Louzán reaffirmed Spanish football’s commitment to the city: “You have our support, and we will help you with everything you need,” he concluded.