A Coach’s Call to Solidarity
Spain’s World Cup‑winning coach Luis de la Fuente arrived in the Madrid‑area town of Las Rozas on Tuesday, stepping into a makeshift shelter where nearly 300 residents have taken refuge after days of raging wildfires.
The coach, who led La Roja to a historic 1‑0 victory over Argentina in the July final in New Jersey, used the visit to lift spirits, telling the evacuees that “it is everyone’s obligation to help and lift spirits in tragic moments.”
During his tour of the Marazuela sports complex, de la Fuente met with volunteers, firefighters and other emergency personnel, thanking them for their relentless effort and emphasizing that the country stands behind those forced to leave their homes.
He also pointed out that all those displaced, as well as families confined to their houses, are receiving the full support of the nation, a message that resonated amid reports that roughly 75,000 people have been uprooted across the capital region and the Valencia region.
The visit underscores a broader national response to the fires, which have scorched thousands of hectares and prompted the Spanish Football Federation to open its training facilities in Las Rozas to house affected families.