The royal who is an even bigger football fan than Prince William – and Infanta Sofia always brings Spain luck in finals

Prince William has already spoken out in support of the Lionesses as they prepare for the Women’s Euros finals but when it comes to football, there’s a royal who is taking all the trophies for steadfast support. Enter Infanta Sofia of Spain.

The younger daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia has just turned 18 but she’s already shown herself to be one of the most passionate supporters of the beautiful game among the reigning dynasties of Europe.

Infanta Sofia’s personal passion for football

In a monarchy where nearly every public gesture is carefully choreographed, it’s telling that Infanta Sofía has earned the public’s affection not through her institutional role, but through something far more relatable: her love of football. The second in line to the Spanish throne has made football a personal passion as well as an unexpected bridge to a generation that often views the monarchy with scepticism—or even indifference.

And Sofia has proved to bring all the luck to her country’s national sides. In August 2023, it was Sofia who led the cheers for Spain as the women’s side won the World Cup. She travelled to Sydney with her mu, Queen Letizia, for the final against England. Images of the Infanta, wrapped in a Spanish flag as she celebrated with the champions, quickly went viral. In that simple gesture, she achieved something the royal household often struggles with: a sense of authenticity.

In 2024, she cheered ono the men’s side to victory in the Euros, too, and shared a diplomatic handshake with Prince William and Prince George ahead of the match. Both victories were over England. Now, Sofia will be the keenest of all the Spanish royals to see that become a hat trick when Spain’s women take on the Lionesses in the final of the 2025 Euros.

Changing the face of the Spanish monarchy

In many ways, her passion reflects the shifting dynamics of Spanish society. In a country where football was long seen as the exclusive domain of men, the rise of the women’s game—growing steadily in visibility and prestige—has opened new spaces of identification for young people like Sofía. And it’s telling that she seems drawn to that side of the sport. Her enthusiasm appears to lie with the national women’s team and Liga F, still in development but already producing stars who transcend the game itself.

In this context, Infanta Sofía embodies a new kind of royal presence—less formal, more attuned to contemporary culture, and comfortable occupying a space that blends tradition with modern sensibilities. She is not unaware of her role: as second in line to the throne, she understands her place within the constitutional framework. But unlike her older sister Princess Leonor, whose path is clearly shaped by the weight of future queenship, Sofía enjoys a bit more freedom to simply be a teenager. And in that freedom, she has chosen football.

There may be nothing more “normal” than a teenager who plays matches with her friends, streams games online, and cheers passionately for her team. But in the context of the Spanish monarchy, such ordinary behaviour takes on a larger symbolic weight. It suggests an institution that is slowly evolving—cautiously, yes, but not standing still—and a young woman who, without trying, is bringing a breath of fresh air to the royal narrative.

Sometimes, modernization doesn’t come through speeches or reforms, but through a red jersey, a pair of boots, and a wide smile after a historic goal. The women’s Euros final may well bring more of the same.