King Felipe VI wears Borja Iglesias shirt with number 26: fan gesture or provocation?

Felipe VI wears Borja Iglesias' World Cup shirt with number 26 and social media erupts

On 15 July, the Spanish national football team qualified for the 2026 World Cup final after crushing France (2-0). In the royal box, the King and Queen and their daughters celebrated every goal with passion, but what really stole the spotlight was the shirt Felipe VI was wearing: Borja Iglesias' name and the number '26', a reference to the year of the tournament.

The number that divided the audience

The video of the celebration surpassed two million views within hours. While for some it was a normal show of support – the King backing the national team – for others the choice of player did not go unnoticed. Borja Iglesias, a Betis striker with a past at Espanyol, has made headlines before for his political positions against conservatism. The number 26 also matched the year of the World Cup, but some comments suggested a more calculated message.

"The fascists must be tearing their hair out"

Irony spread on social media about the reaction of the most ultra sectors. Part of the public interpreted the shirt as a mockery of national Catholicism, given the history of criticism by the Royal Household of certain Francoist symbols. However, most responses were critical of the royal family: "They look like YouTubers fishing for sympathy," read one comment, and "fake beyond belief." The controversy recalled the Villa Giralda scandal, a property hastily sold to avoid propaganda.

A final on the horizon

Meanwhile, Spain awaits its date with history: Sunday 19 July in New York. Luis de la Fuente's side did not need to call on their stars to dispose of France. Mbappé, Olise and Dembelé went unnoticed. The debate over the royal shirt, however, will persist until the final whistle.