Rafael Louzán visits the Spanish media at Dallas' International Broadcast Centre

Around 3,400 media professionals, many representing the nearly one hundred outlets that have made Dallas their operational base during the World Cup, work each day inside the city's impressive convention centre, which has been transformed for the tournament into the International Broadcast Centre (IBC).

This Saturday, a public holiday in the United States marking Independence Day, was no exception for the Spanish journalists and broadcast technicians, who welcomed a visit from RFEF President Rafael Louzán just two days before Spain's decisive Round of 16 encounter against Portugal.

During the visit, Louzán had the opportunity to see first-hand the work carried out by reporters and production teams who have made the Dallas IBC their workplace for more than a month. The facility serves as the operational heart of the tournament, distributing the official television feed for all 104 World Cup matches and housing, among many other services, the rooms where the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) teams oversee matches throughout the competition.

Coinciding with the first Round of 16 fixture between Canada and Morocco, Louzán observed live radio broadcasts from Spanish stations, visited RTVE's transmission control facilities at the IBC, and toured the centre's nearly 15,000 square metres of media infrastructure. The venue will once again play a central role in four years' time during the next FIFA World Cup, when Spain will host more venues and matches than any other co-host nation.

Until Monday's Iberian derby against Portugal, Dallas will serve as the home of the Spanish national team. On Sunday 5 July, Casa España will officially open in the city's Trinity Groves district, providing a meeting place for Spanish supporters eager to cheer the team on as it bids to secure a place in the quarter-finals.