Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal will play in the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, but his father, Munir Nasraoui, will not be in the stands. While Yamal’s mother, younger brother, and friends have been cheering from the gallery throughout the tournament, Nasraoui’s absence has drawn attention. He had accompanied his son during Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign but could not travel to the United States for the World Cup due to health issues.

According to Spanish outlet El Español, Nasraoui suffers from epilepsy, making long flights risky for him. Before the tournament, he expressed concern that the excitement and stress of the final could trigger severe seizures. He explained that he takes daily medication and decided to stay home for his own safety and the comfort of others. Nasraoui said watching the match from home was the best choice for everyone.

Despite his father’s absence, Yamal continues to receive strong support from his family, with his mother and brother actively cheering from the stands throughout the competition.

Thirteen people were killed in a severe wildfire that broke out last Thursday in Spain’s southern Andalusia region, with authorities confirming that twelve of the victims were foreign nationals. The confirmation came after autopsies were completed on Tuesday. According to officials, the victims included seven from the United Kingdom, three from Belgium, one from France, and one from the United States, while the remaining victim was a Spanish citizen. All were adults, comprising eight women and five men.

The blaze began in the southeastern province of Almería, a Mediterranean coastal area popular among foreign residents. Strong winds and extreme heat helped the fire spread rapidly through forests and dried vegetation, turning once-picturesque villages into deserted zones. Authorities said the fire, one of Spain’s deadliest in recent years, burned about 7,000 hectares of land and was likely sparked by a fallen power line. The fire has since been brought under control, and residents began returning home on Sunday.

Officials noted that Spain has faced increasingly intense and prolonged heatwaves in recent years, creating conditions that make wildfires more frequent and destructive.

Spain reached the 2026 World Cup semifinals after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Belgium in Los Angeles, thanks to a late goal from substitute Mikel Merino. The Arsenal midfielder, brought on in the 86th minute, scored just two minutes later after reacting quickest to a rebound from Pau Cubarsí’s shot that slipped through Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens’ hands. The win marked Merino’s second consecutive match-winning goal as a substitute in the knockout stage, following his decisive strike against Portugal in the round of 16.

Speaking after the match, Merino described the moment as unbelievable and emotional, especially with his family watching from the stands. He emphasized his readiness to contribute whenever called upon and downplayed personal records, saying the team’s success mattered most. Spain will now face France in the semifinals, a team they have beaten in both Euro 2024 and the Nations League.

Merino said Spain are focused on continuing their strong form and are determined to chase their World Cup dream, standing just two wins away from the trophy.

At least 12 people have died and six others were injured in a wildfire that broke out in Los Gallardos, located in Spain’s southeastern Almería province, according to the Andalusian regional government. The BBC reported on Friday that some victims were found inside burned vehicles. Witnesses said the fire may have started after a power line snapped, though authorities have not confirmed the exact cause.

The blaze spread rapidly amid a prolonged heatwave that has pushed temperatures close to 40 degrees Celsius across southern Europe. Hundreds of firefighters are battling fires in Spain, France, and Portugal, while thousands of residents have been evacuated for safety. Andalusian regional president Juanma Moreno described the incident as a “tragic tragedy” and expressed condolences to the victims’ families on social media.

Spain’s military emergency unit has joined firefighting efforts in Los Gallardos. The country recorded its highest average June temperature since 1950, and experts warn that climate change is making Europe the fastest-warming continent, increasing the frequency and severity of wildfires.

A severe wildfire in Spain’s eastern Valencia region has forced the evacuation of about 500 residents from Castellón province. The blaze, which began on Sunday, has already burned around 150 hectares of forest, according to local media reports. On Monday morning, authorities deployed 12 aircraft to help contain the fire as temperatures continued to rise under the country’s second heatwave of the summer.

Firefighters from the Asturias region have joined the efforts to control the flames, while another wildfire that began on June 26 in a mountainous area remains under management. In Catalonia’s Girona area, a separate fire that started on Friday injured 14 people and burned approximately 2,300 hectares before being brought under control on Saturday. Fire crews continued working through early Monday to prevent reignition.

Officials have warned that the intensifying heatwave could complicate containment efforts in the coming days, posing ongoing risks to affected communities and forested areas.

Spain has experienced its hottest June days in 76 years, according to preliminary data released on Thursday by the national meteorological agency AEMET. The agency reported that on Tuesday, the average temperature across mainland Spain was 7.1 degrees Celsius higher than normal, marking the hottest June day since records began in 1950. Monday was the second hottest June day, while Sunday ranked eighth.

Although temperatures slightly decreased on Thursday, conditions remained extremely hot on Wednesday, prompting red alerts in northern regions due to severe heat risks. At Bilbao Airport, temperatures exceeded 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, the first time this has occurred three times in one year. In Cantabria, northern Spain, a record high of 43.7 degrees Celsius was recorded.

Meteorologists attributed the heatwave to a persistent “heat dome” over Western Europe and hot, dry air moving north from the Sahara Desert. Preliminary estimates suggest at least 212 people died from heat-related causes between Sunday and Wednesday.

A Spanish court has ordered Begoña Gómez, wife of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to stand trial in a corruption case and imposed a travel ban preventing her from leaving the country. The decision follows a two-year investigation into allegations of embezzlement, influence peddling, business corruption, and misuse of funds. Judge Juan Carlos Peinado instructed Gómez to surrender her passport and appear in court twice a month until the trial begins before a jury. Gómez, 55, has denied all charges.

The case originated from a complaint filed by the far-right-linked group Manos Limpias (Clean Hands). Prime Minister Sánchez has repeatedly dismissed the case as baseless and politically motivated, accusing opponents and parts of the judiciary of targeting his family. Following the court order, the Socialist Party posted on social media that Gómez has been subjected to judicial and political persecution for two years.

The ruling comes amid several ongoing corruption investigations involving Sánchez’s relatives and former allies, posing potential risks to his government’s stability.

Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Madrid on Saturday demanding the resignation of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The demonstration, organized by the Spanish Civil Society Association, saw participants from the opposition People’s Party and the far-right Vox party. Clashes broke out when protesters attempted to breach security barriers near Sánchez’s official residence, Moncloa Palace, leaving at least seven police officers injured. Police arrested three individuals during the unrest.

The protests erupted after a Spanish court announced an investigation into former Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, a close ally of Sánchez, on charges of influence peddling and money laundering. Zapatero has denied all allegations. The development has reignited political tensions in Spain, where Sánchez previously faced scrutiny in 2024 over corruption allegations involving his wife, which he dismissed as politically motivated.

Organizers claimed around 80,000 people joined the protest, while government officials in Madrid estimated the turnout at about 40,000, reflecting differing accounts of the scale of public dissent.

Real Madrid closed their La Liga season with a 4-2 victory over Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu, marking an emotional night filled with both celebration and farewells. The match, held on May 24, 2026, saw goals from Gonzalo García, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, and Brahim Díaz for the home side, while Gorka Guruzeta and Urko Izeta scored for Bilbao.

Beyond the scoreline, the evening was defined by the departures of two long-serving players, Dani Carvajal and David Alaba. Both received standing ovations and a guard of honor from teammates as they were substituted in their final appearances for the club. Coaches Álvaro Arbeloa and Ernesto Valverde also stood on the touchline for the last time, adding to the night’s sentiment.

Despite the win, Real Madrid finished the season as runners-up behind Barcelona. The victory, however, provided fans and players with a memorable conclusion to the campaign, blending triumph with heartfelt goodbyes.

Barcelona ended their La Liga season as champions but suffered a 3-1 defeat to Valencia in their final match, which also marked Robert Lewandowski’s farewell appearance for the club. The Polish striker opened the scoring after an hour of play, calmly finishing inside the box to give Barcelona the lead.

Valencia quickly turned the game around within five minutes. Javi Guerra equalized with a fine finish, and Luis Rioja put the hosts ahead 2-1 following an attack created by Jesus Vazquez. Barcelona tried to recover but failed to find another goal. A potential penalty for Valencia was overturned after VAR confirmed the foul occurred outside the box.

In stoppage time, Guido Rodriguez sealed Valencia’s victory with a long-range strike. Despite the win, Valencia missed out on European qualification as Getafe and Rayo Vallecano both won their respective matches. For Barcelona, the season closed with a loss and an emotional farewell for Lewandowski.

The Spanish High Court has ruled in favor of pop star Shakira in a long-running tax dispute, canceling a €55 million fine and ordering the Spanish tax authority to return approximately €60 million to her with interest. The court found that the amount had been collected following a 2011 tax disagreement. According to court documents, the dispute centered on whether Shakira qualified as a tax resident of Spain that year.

Under Spanish law, an individual must reside in the country for at least 183 days in a year to be considered a tax resident. Reports cited by the court indicated that Shakira spent only 163 days in Spain in 2011, meaning she was not legally required to pay Spanish taxes for that period. The ruling, issued in mid-April, became public on April 18.

Shakira’s lawyer, José Luis Prada, said the decision came after eight years of hardship, highlighting flaws in the administrative process. The case had drawn attention due to similar tax issues previously faced by her former husband, ex-footballer Gerard Piqué.

Barcelona defeated Real Betis 3–1 at Spotify Camp Nou on May 18, 2026, marking a historic night for the club. The victory not only sealed a perfect home record across all 38 La Liga matches but also became the first such achievement in Spanish football history. The evening was further marked by an emotional farewell from Polish striker Robert Lewandowski, who played his final home match for the Catalan side.

Lewandowski, who joined Barcelona from Bayern Munich in 2022 during the club’s financial crisis, won seven trophies including three La Liga titles over four years. Wearing the captain’s armband, the 37-year-old was substituted in the 85th minute and waved tearfully to fans. Teammates Raphinha, Pedri, and Araújo honored him by ensuring he captained the match, while coach Hansi Flick praised him as both a world-class player and a remarkable person.

Although this was his last home appearance, Lewandowski is set to play one final match for Barcelona next week against Valencia, closing a memorable chapter in his career.

Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal European critics of Israel’s war in Gaza, a stance that has placed Madrid at odds with the United States and several of Washington’s allies. Alongside its criticism, Spain has renewed calls for the creation of a permanent European Union army, urging Europe to reduce its military dependence on the United States.

The situation has raised questions about the current state of relations between Washington and Madrid, as well as Spain’s position among U.S. allies. In an interview on Al Jazeera’s ‘UpFront’ program this week, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares discussed Spain’s foreign policy, its commitment to international law, and the present condition of its relationship with the United States.

The discussion highlights Spain’s effort to balance its foreign policy principles with its transatlantic partnerships amid growing divisions over the Gaza conflict.

Spain has announced its withdrawal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a video message on Friday that Spain cannot remain silent in the face of what he described as genocide in Gaza and an illegal war in Lebanon. He emphasized that the decision reflects Spain’s commitment to human rights and international law.

Sánchez described the move by Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE to skip the contest as consistent and necessary, stating that it was taken to stand against injustice. He argued that the same principle used to exclude Russia after the Ukraine war should apply to Israel, insisting there should be no double standards. According to Sánchez, Eurovision symbolizes peace, unity, and Europe’s diversity, but silence in the face of war and atrocities is not an option.

He added that several other countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, have taken similar positions. The 2026 Eurovision contest began on May 12, with the grand final scheduled for Saturday.

A political controversy erupted during Barcelona’s championship parade in May 2026 when young Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal was seen waving a Palestinian flag amid celebrations in the city. The event, attended by around 750,000 fans, followed Barcelona’s 2–0 victory over Real Madrid that secured their second consecutive La Liga title. Yamal’s gesture, alongside a playful jab at Real Madrid, drew international attention.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reacted sharply on social media, accusing Yamal of inciting hatred and arguing that displaying the Palestinian flag sent the wrong message while Israel was at war with Hamas. Katz referenced the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack, alleging atrocities against Jewish civilians.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez swiftly defended Yamal, calling Katz’s remarks misguided and asserting that showing solidarity with Palestinians reflected the feelings of many Spaniards. Spain’s government has long criticized Israel’s military actions in Gaza, and public sympathy for Palestinians remains strong across Spanish society and sports. Yamal’s act has since inspired widespread support online, with many praising his humanitarian stance.