📹 Cibeles Palace, home to @MADRID City Hall, is hosting the official events ahead of the match between Spain and England. 🇪🇸-🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧🇿 The president of the @rfef has paid tribute to the stars of @SeFutbol ahead of the decisive #NationsLeague fixture. https://t.co/yZYGG5tLrJ

— RFEF (@rfef) 15 November 2026

Almost four months after arriving at Plaza de Cibeles from the Americas, the FIFA World Cup trophy was once again the centre of attention on the day Spain bring a historic year of success to a close with their decisive clash against England.

Hours before facing the Three Lions on the pitch at the Metropolitano, the RFEF president led the official events marking the UEFA Nations League fixture. The occasion provided an opportunity to pay tribute to Spain fans and former national-team stars with ties to the Spanish capital.

First, Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida welcomed those attending the visit to the Kings of the World exhibition, which has been on display at City Hall throughout the weekend.

“This World Cup trophy,” Martínez-Almeida explained, “arrived here from the United States four months ago, and today it fills us with immense pride, right in the heart of Madrid, because we consider ourselves one of the world’s great sporting capitals.”

The RFEF president thanked the Mayor for the warm welcome ahead of the final match of a year he described as ‘a golden one for Spanish football at every level’.

“Today we continue our journey,” Louzán went on, “and, like pilgrims of old, next week we will visit Santiago de Compostela, because this trophy must reach every single part of Spain.”

For now, the World Cup trophy will visit Puerta del Sol this Monday, before heading to the Niño Jesús University Children’s Hospital and the new facilities of the Royal Madrid Football Federation. Its president, Paco Díez, expressed his gratitude for “the tremendous gesture this represents for Madrid and all its people, giving them the opportunity to enjoy this trophy”.

The President of the Community of Madrid echoed that sentiment, drawing a comparison between the World Cup triumphs of 2010 and 2026. She said: “We all remember how we celebrated those finals and who we hugged when we won. In every town and city across Spain, we shared that joy, because when we stand together, we are unbeatable.”

Isabel Díaz Ayuso quoted legendary footballer Alfredo Di Stéfano, who once said that ‘no player is as good as all of us together’. Her remarks came on a day when Spain stars from different generations received recognition from the RFEF president, bringing the official pre-match ceremony to a close.

World Cup winners such as Iker Casillas and Fernando Llorente, alongside major figures in the history of the national team, including Rubén de la Red, Paco Buyo, Jaime Mata, José Luis López-Peinado, Abel Resino, Isidoro San José, Rafael Martín Vázquez and José Miguel González ‘Míchel’, posed for photographs wearing Spain’s shirt with the two stars above the crest — the shirt they had defended so many times on the pitch.

Rafael Louzán also exchanged commemorative gifts marking the match against England with Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida; the Community of Madrid’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport, Mariano de Paco; UEFA delegate Michal Mertinyak; Atlético de Madrid president Enrique Cerezo; AFE president David Aganzo; English Football Association chair Debbie Hewitt; and Royal Madrid Football Federation president Paco Díez.

Sunday’s Spain vs England match, which will decide the UEFA Nations League group winners, will also mark the 22nd collaborative fixture organised by the RFEF and AFE. The partnership helps provide further support for footballers in the lower divisions of Spanish football, adding another positive note to the end of an unforgettable competitive year for the national team.