Madrid, October 10, 2025 — Torrential rain in the southeast of Spain has disrupted travel plans for the national football team ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Georgia, scheduled for Saturday in Elche. The severe weather has prompted officials to put safety first, forcing a change in the team’s itinerary.
The match, set to take place at the Estadio Manuel Martínez Valero, was supposed to see Spain’s players fly from Madrid to Elche on Friday after completing their training session at the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) headquarters. However, with the province of Alicante placed under a red alert for extreme weather conditions, including forecasts of up to 180 liters of rainfall per square meter and strong winds, the team has postponed its travel until Saturday morning — the same day as the match.
Elche and surrounding areas have already faced significant flooding after receiving nearly 70 liters of rain per square meter on Thursday. Schools were closed and all public activities suspended on Friday as authorities warned residents to stay indoors amid worsening conditions.
Despite the delays, the game is still expected to kick off at 20:45 local time (CET). The visiting Georgia squad has been in Alicante since Monday and continues its preparations as planned. Officials remain confident that conditions will improve by matchday, allowing Spain to arrive safely and fulfill its fixture without further disruption.