Spain depart Santiago for Nashville as fans salute World Cup send-off | OneFootball

Spain left Santiago de Compostela for Nashville on Friday morning to begin final preparations for the 2026 World Cup, receiving a lively send-off at Lavacolla airport shortly before 11:00.

Families and youngsters gathered with shirts of Lamine Yamal and Pedri, flags and footballs, hoping for autographs from the likes of Yamal, Pedri, Borja Iglesias and Gavi. Travellers already in departures did double takes as players appeared, seizing chances for quick photos.

Lamine Yamal, Nico Williams, Pedri and Rodri drew the biggest calls, though Borja Iglesias spent longest with supporters and needed a security escort to rejoin the squad for the official photo, amid jokes he might miss the flight.

One fan, Diego, dressed in an Arabic robe, posed with Pedri and Unai Simón before flying to Alicante for his stag do, one of several farewell parties criss-crossing the terminal. Airport staff said such scenes have been common since March.

The squad posed on the tarmac beside an Iberia Airbus A350-Next in special World Cup livery. Accompanying the team, federation president Rafael Louzán urged caution, saying Spain would proceed step by step, expressed confidence in a group eager for wins, played down climate concerns and said the three injured players are, in principle, available, possibly even for Monday’s friendly.

Iraq also departed from Lavacolla for the United States two hours later. Spain will first face Peru in a final friendly in Mexico, then open Group H against Cape Verde on Monday 15 June at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium, before meeting Saudi Arabia in the same city.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo