Plaza de Colón now has a new competitor for watching La Roja during the World Cup. This Friday, Madrid Río is once again set to become a massive open-air stadium. To mark the World Cup quarterfinals, the City Council will install two giant screens at Puente del Rey to broadcast the national team’s matches live—completely free of charge and designed so that thousands of people can enjoy soccer together as a community, next to the river and with views of the city’s historic waterfront.
The two giant screens will be installed in the central area of the bridge and its immediate surroundings, with the goal of providing good visibility from various vantage points and preventing crowds from congregating in a single spot. The organizers will designate a main area in front of each screen, which will serve as a standing-room-only section, and will set up side areas for those who wish to watch the match from a slightly greater distance.
Schedule and Access Information
Although the exact details are still to be finalized, the match against Belgium begins at 9:00 p.m. If past events are any indication, the venue typically opens several hours before kickoff, with staggered entry and a gradual exit after the match ends; police will usually be stationed at the entrances. It’s customary for the gates to open at least two hours beforehand to avoid last-minute crowds and allow people to arrive at their leisure, find their spots, and enjoy the Madrid Río area.
Access will be organized via the pedestrian walkways that converge at Puente del Rey, with specific signage and an increased presence of security and emergency personnel. To ensure a comfortable experience, it is generally recommended to arrive by public transportation (especially the Metro and Cercanías, with nearby stations such as Príncipe Pío), avoid bringing large backpacks, and be aware that once capacity is reached, it will be difficult to enter.
Where to Watch the National Team in Madrid
Madrid is ready for a few weeks of goal celebrations and packed outdoor patios: aside from the two giant screens at Puente del Rey, the city is brimming with hotspots to watch the World Cup without staying on the couch.
Plaza Selección in Colón and Plaza de España in Las Rozas are serving as large official fan zones with outdoor screens, while dozens of sports bars, Irish pubs, and restaurants have set up their own viewing areas at the bar—from classics like James Joyce, La Fontana de Oro, and The Irish Rover to newer spots like Fratina Sport Bar, Distrito 7, and Casa Kike. Also joining in are Operación Mundial at Autocine Madrid and the terrace at Rita’s Mirador in the Metropolitano.
