Louzán, festival queens and a city united as Spain face Iceland in Castelló | OneFootball

With the Magdalena festivities on the horizon, Castelló hosted Spain’s opening qualifier for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil at SkyFi Castalia. The first step towards defending the title returned elite football to a ground that last month staged the Supercopa de España.

From 15:00, Teodoro Izquierdo square became the pre-match focal point, with music, activities and a family feel painting the nearby streets red. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, it was not an easy night for a sell-out, with a weekday 19:00 kick-off and raw temperatures.

Even so, large numbers filled various sections of SkyFi Castalia. The occasion had a youth feel, with dozens of children waving homemade signs asking for shirts from Alexia Putellas, Irene Paredes, Vicky López and Claudia Pina.

Fans travelled from Alzira, Elche and across Castellón province, and city teams such as Fustecma Nou Bàsquet Femení were represented. Spain shirts dominated, with some Barcelona colours, scarves and flags urging Sonia Bermúdez’s side towards a crucial start to qualifying.

“España, España” rang out at intervals, and half-time brought one of the night’s standout moments, phone torches illuminating Castalia in time with the music.

Spanish football federation president Rafael Louzán attended with federation representatives and Iceland’s ambassador in Spain, Kristján Andri Stefánsson. Mayor Begoña Carrasco was also present, alongside festival queens Clara Sanz and Ana Colón, and at the federation’s official lunch she called it a source of pride to host and stressed the city’s ongoing push to promote women’s sport.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo