Spain v England

About the Drawing

Spain's victory over England in the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup Final marked a defining moment for Spanish football. Played in Sydney, the final brought together two European nations on the other side of the world, reflecting how quickly the women's game had grown in both quality and global reach.

Olga Carmona's first-half goal proved decisive, giving Spain its first Women's World Cup title. Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofía travelled to Australia to support the team, a sign of the importance the occasion had come to hold in Spain. Listening to the match unfold, there was a growing sense that women's football in the country had reached a new chapter.

In the days that followed, the celebrations filled the streets of Madrid. I remember standing among the crowds as the players travelled through the city on an open-top bus, sharing in the excitement of welcoming home world champions.

Looking back, the final is remembered for more than the football. Events during the medal ceremony quickly became international news and diverted attention from the players' achievement. Around the same time, it emerged that Olga Carmona had learned only after the match that her father had died. Those stories became part of the occasion, yet they should never overshadow the simple fact that, for four years, Spain are world champions.

What stays with me, however, is the football itself and the respect shown between the two teams. England's coach, Sarina Wiegman, acknowledged Spain's performance after the final, and later dedicated her FIFA Coach of the Year award to the Spanish team. It was a generous gesture that reflected the spirit of the competition. This drawing is my record of the match and of the day Spain became world champions.