Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofía visited Sydney stadium this Sunday to watch the final of the Women’s World Cup, which the Spanish team played against England. And after the victory, Doña Letizia and her daughter landed on the field and celebrated the title with the players, without any protocol. The royal family wanted to accompany the players who, game after game, confirmed the emergence and professionalization of women’s football and delighted the country thanks to their qualification for the final. However, Princess Leonor was unable to attend following her admission to Zaragoza’s General Military Academy on Thursday. Also King Felipe VI. not, who will start the consultation round for the investiture on Monday in Madrid.
Speaking to RTVE cameras minutes before the game started, the Queen and her baby daughter said: “It is a pleasure and exciting to be here in Sydney today to support and guide the players and the entire coaching staff.” that makes the whole of Spain tremble,” said Doña Letizia, visibly moved. “I think on our side there is the ability to overcome obstacles, work, effort, the desire to win and hopefully luck too…but no matter what happens, they are already champions,” he assured. For her part, the Infanta Sofía added that she was “looking forward to the start of the game” and “especially after that she will go to the dressing room to congratulate them in any case.”
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Aitana Bonmatí receives congratulations from Infanta Sofía after accepting her trophy for best player of the World Cup from the Queen. WILLIAM WEST (AFP)
Mother and daughter were very excited, watching the game from the box and supporting the players. “Master!! Champions!! World Champion!! They are the best soccer players in the world. This is FOOTBALL and it is HISTORY! “Thank you @SEFutbolFem for making all of Spain vibrate,” the royal family wrote on their Twitter account shortly after the end of the game that gave Spain victory.
Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofía in the box during the final. JAIMI JOY (Portal)
In the end, after the victory of Spain, who became world champions thanks to a goal by Olga Carmona, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia entered the field. Both climbed onto the podium along with the rest of the authorities and greeted and congratulated the players effusively, with hugs and without protocols, one after the other. The Queen was responsible for presenting the trophy for the championship’s best player to Aitana Bonmatí. Doña Sofía, meanwhile, carried a Spanish flag in her hands. Letizia couldn’t hide her delight as she posed with the players in the group photo, with the trophy she held up without hesitation.
Later, Doña Letizia was happily given a Spanish team shirt with her name on it, while the champions circled around chanting it and shouting a formal “Que bote la Reina!”. And Doña Letizia didn’t hesitate to jump. Infanta Sofía, wrapped in the Spanish flag, also received her shirt. Mother and daughter – the Infanta already in her red jersey – later went to the stands to greet some of the fans watching the final at Sydney Stadium. Among the spectators was Elsa Pataky, for example. The Spanish actress, who was joined by her husband, actor Chris Hemsworth, celebrated both the goal and the Spanish team’s victory on her social media.
Queen Letizia holds the national team jersey with her name, accompanied by Infanta Sofía (showing the World Cup) and the rest of the players and technical team. Mark Baker (AP)
It’s not the first time the Queen and Infanta have shown their support for the Spanish football team. Doña Letizia has always supported women’s football despite being accused of several misses in important games in the past. In 2019 he made history by awarding the Copa de la Reina, the first time a member of the royal family has done this, although the competition has been held since 1983. In June he visited the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas and said goodbye and wished the team the best of luck in their preparations before heading to Australia and New Zealand. The Queen assured them on that occasion that they would “bring the affection of a whole country to these lands so far away”. He was not wrong: “I know you are aware of the expectations you are creating and the illusion I hope you feel from so many people who support, encourage and love you,” he said and encouraged players to do what they do best, “which is play football. To football, no labels”. Doña Letizia received a shirt with her name on it and a captain’s bracelet, which she put on with a smile. He also chatted animatedly with the players.
For her part, the Infanta Sofía is a big fan of football, a sport that she practiced and that same year she accompanied the king to the cup final in Seville. Along with his sister, Princess Leonor, he also attended a match of the Spanish team in the Eurocup, held in England last year at the Brentford Community Stadium, where the Spanish players reached the quarter-finals after beating Denmark. It was the first trip abroad that they made on behalf of the royal family without their parents. Both were joined in the box by the Minister for Culture and Sport, Miquel Iceta, and the President of the Spanish Football Federation, Luis Rubiales. With the latter you could have a lively conversation during the game. At the end of the game, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía went to the dressing rooms to congratulate the football players. They could be seen posing for a few photos and sharing hugs and congratulations in a relaxed attitude. The selection, in turn, gave the sisters two T-shirts with their names and the number 10 printed on them. Both posed smiling with their gifts in a photo that Casa del Rey shared on social networks.
Queen Letizia accompanied by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at Sydney Stadium minutes before the start of the Women’s World Cup final. JAIMI JOY (Portal)
However, there was no representation by the British royal family. A fact that drew some criticism and practically forced Prince William of England, the President of the English Football Association (FA), to apologize on social media. In the video, the heir to the British crown appeared with his eight-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte, sitting on a garden bench. “Lionesses” (Lionesses, in Spanish) begins with “William of England” and refers to the name the team bears. “I want to wish you all the best for tomorrow. We’re sorry we can’t be there in person, but we’re so proud of everything you’ve accomplished and the millions of people you’ve inspired here and around the world.” A smiling Carlota, with a football in hand, adds: “Good luck lionesses.”