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Rafael Nadal Celebrates Spain’s World Cup Final Berth with Emotional Message

2026-07-16 · Rafael Nadal · Player Focus

Rafael Nadal lit up social media on Tuesday night after Spain punched its ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final with a 2-0 semifinal win over France in Dallas.

What happened?

Spain booked its place in the final thanks to first-half goals from Mikel Oyarzabal and Pedro Porro, then held off a relentless French attack featuring Kylian Mbappé, Michael Olise and Ousmane Dembélé. The 2-0 scoreline sent shockwaves through the sporting world: and the Spanish tennis elite couldn’t stay silent.

Rafael Nadal, a lifelong football fan who supports Real Madrid, posted on X: “To the World Cup final! Congratulations, Spanish Football.” The message, translated from Spanish, capped a night of national pride.

Why it matters for Rafael Nadal

For Nadal, the win wasn’t just another football result. It was a moment to celebrate the nation that shaped his career. The 22-time Grand Slam champion has long been vocal about his love for La Roja, and his public cheer underscored the cross-sport unity sweeping Spain.

Carlos Alcaraz, sidelined with a wrist injury, still found a way to celebrate. The seven-time Grand Slam winner posted “Viva España” on social media, showing the depth of support even from injured athletes. Paula Badosa, fresh off a win at the Iași Open, vowed to recover fast enough to watch the final. “I’ll have to recover fast and watch the match and support,” she told reporters after beating Anhelina Kalinina.

Who else joined the celebration?

Tennis’ rising star Rafael Jódar, a 19-year-old from Madrid, was courtside in Dallas to cheer on Spain. He shared his support on Instagram Stories ahead of kickoff, adding to the chorus of tennis voices backing the football team.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also chimed in, posting a hopeful message about Spain adding a second star to its crest. The team won its first World Cup in 2010, and the semifinal victory put it one step closer to repeating the feat.

What comes next?

Spain will face the winner of Wednesday’s semifinal between England and Argentina: led by Lionel Messi: in the final at MetLife Stadium in New York on Sunday. The match kicks off at 4 p.m. local time, and the entire Spanish sporting world will be watching.

For Nadal, the night was a rare chance to cheer for something bigger than tennis. His message wasn’t just about football. It was about pride, unity and the relentless spirit of Spain: on and off the court.

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