A minute’s silence is held in memory of the flood victims at the Mestalla, the football stadium of Valencia CF. — A minute’s silence is held in memory of the flood victims at the Mestalla. Photograph: Pablo Morano/Reuters

In early November 2024, Spain was hit by devastating flooding that claimed over 200 lives, one of the deadliest natural disasters in the country’s modern history. Eastern and southern regions such as Valencia, Castilla–La Mancha, and Andalusia bore the brunt, with torrential rains transforming streets into rivers and leaving communities in shock. Although these areas of Spain had seen flooding before, this flooding was more intense, likely due to the effects of climate change. Amidst the loss and chaos, football—a huge part of Spain’s cultural life—was not spared

Football’s Fields Submerged

The submerged Discóbolo football pitch, in the La Torre neighborhood. (Relevo)

The floods left a stark imprint on Valencian football. In this province alone, 150 football fields were damaged, with 15 completely destroyed. The Valencian Community Football Federation (FFCV) reported that 15% of players, coaches, and staff were directly affected. For grassroots clubs already navigating tight budgets, this devastation risks long-term consequences. To support these clubs, the FFCV has stepped in with measures like providing free bus travel so that clubs can play at unaffected grounds.

El Pelleter - home to seventh-division club CF Paiporta - was transformed into a mud-strewn wasteland. In Benamargosa, Malaga, a pitch that once hosted training sessions for Spain’s women’s walking football team was rendered unrecognisable. Video footage showed water sweeping across the grounds. The Discobolo La Torre A.C women's team saw their ground destroyed, and the club coach spoke about his anguish. These examples are a reminder of how integral these spaces are to communities, and how grassroots and women’s football infrastructure is most at risk from climate impacts.

A Sport in Mourning

Girona’s Miguel Gutiérrez, one of many players with a connection to Valencia who featured in La Liga, dedicates his goal to the victims of flooding. Photograph: David Borrat/EPA

The impact wasn’t limited to facilities. Former Valencia player, José Castillejo, 28, died in the floods. Girona player, Miguel Gutiérrez, dedicated a goal to his friend who lost his mother in the floods. High-profile footballing figures such as Barcelona’s Ferran Torres criticised the Spanish government and local authorities for their lack of preparedness and response.

Over the weekend, Spanish football paused to reflect on the lives lost, and in the Premier League, Arsenal and Newcastle players wore black armbands as a mark of solidarity for their fixture on 2nd November. However, the floods were so severe that many questioned whether games should even proceed amidst the tragedy.

Luis García, coach of Alavés, reflected on the situation after his team’s victory: “Playing this makes no sense.” Real Sociedad manager Imanol Alguacil echoed this sentiment, insisting that matches should have been postponed, even without rescheduling options. Perhaps the most telling perspective came from Real Madrid’s Carlo Ancelotti: “When people are not OK, you don't have to party. Football has to stop. Because it is the most important of the least important things.”

On the other hand, football has played a key role in the response to the disaster. Valencia CF quickly made their facilities available for local authorities to use in any way possible, with the Mestalla stadium becoming a food distribution point. Club staff and players helped at the stadium and with clearing mud from the streets, while the club used its communication channels to send public information messages to its community. Further down the footballing pyramid, Evangélico CF, a club from Torrent (Valencia) with a deep passion for social and community action, stepped up to distribute water and plates of paella, travelling to areas with limited accessibility to help those most affected. Thanks to the efforts of Evangélico CF, football reached areas not even the army could access.

A football under uprooted trees on the Pinedo beach in Valencia. Photograph: Alberto Saiz/AP

A Warning for the Future

While the immediate recovery from Spain’s floods is the priority, this disaster is part of a larger, troubling pattern. Climate change is driving more frequent and extreme weather events, and football—like every aspect of life—is feeling the effects. From pitches destroyed by floods to sweltering heat waves making playing football unsafe, the beautiful game is increasingly vulnerable. Climate impacts are now being felt even in major European cities, not just the developing world. Without urgent action to curb greenhouse gas emissions, these challenges will multiply.

Spain’s floods underline the interconnectedness of climate and sport. As fans, clubs, and players rally to support affected communities, we must also recognise this as a call to action. Across the game, people are increasingly stepping up - in Germany, for example, Kai Havertz led a campaign to help flood victims in Germany back in 2021. Amidst disaster, the community leadership shown by clubs such as Valencia CF and Evangélico CF are incredible examples of the power of football, but we need to do more across society to tackle climate change and avert its worst impacts.

Cruz Roja, the Spanish Red Cross, are continuing to encourage donations to support the relief effort - you can donate here.