After World Cup win, Luis de la Fuente visits wildfire evacuees in Las Rozas

The Spanish national football team coach, Luis de la Fuente, visited evacuees from wildfires at the Polideportivo La Marazuela in Las Rozas on Sunday, just a week after leading Spain to a World Cup victory. De la Fuente, a resident of Las Rozas, described his presence as "an obligation and a pride" Source: elnacionalve, lavanguardia, infobae, elmundoes.

The visit and message

During his visit, De la Fuente spent time with affected families, including children and elderly, sharing moments of support. He stated, "If this visit brings them a moment of happiness, mission accomplished" Source: abces. Reflecting on the contrast, he said, "We have enjoyed a very affectionate and caring time with families and children, trying to help as much as possible" Source: elnacionalve. The coach emphasized that "all of Spain is watching over them" and that the support they receive is the same as the country gave the team during the World Cup Source: elmundoes.

Scale of the disaster

Over 116,000 people remain evacuated or confined across Spain. The majority—about 100,000—are in Madrid and Ávila, with another 16,000 in Castellón. The government has declared a national emergency in the three contiguous provinces of Madrid, Ávila, and Toledo, deploying the military, security forces, and international aid. According to El Confidencial, the fires have burned approximately 77,000 hectares across a perimeter of over 280 kilometers.

RFEF support

The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) has opened its residence at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas to house vulnerable displaced families. De la Fuente noted that the Federation is "fully committed" to helping those in need Source: elmundoes.