Washington Takes Madrid 2025

Operation Madrid Featuring Santana Moss | November 2025

In November 2025, Sports Fans Travel brought 50+ Washington Commanders faithful to Spain for a weekend that no one in attendance will ever forget. Hosted by Commanders legend Santana Moss, the trip was equal parts cultural immersion and football history — a traditional Spanish dinner followed by a world-class Flamenco show on night one, a Night Before Pep Rally on night two, and an all-inclusive gameday tailgate with Santana Moss himself leading up to the first-ever NFL game played on Spanish soil.

Madrid didn't know what hit it.

Villa y Corte has a way of getting under your skin — the late-night energy, the world-class food and wine, the architecture around every corner. This group got to experience all of it. The trip kicked off with a traditional Spanish dinner and one of the city's premier Flamenco shows, where the passion and precision of the performance set the tone for the entire weekend. Days were spent soaking in everything the Spanish capital had to offer — strolling the Gran Vía, exploring centuries of history, and discovering why Madrid consistently ranks among the greatest cities in the world. It was the kind of trip that reminds you there's a big world out there, and that watching your team play in the middle of it makes it even better.

Gameday in Madrid was unlike anything the NFL world had ever seen. Sports Fans Travel's group arrived at a classic Irish pub steps from the stadium before the doors even opened to the public — giving travelers a private head start with Santana Moss, open bar, and a spread of Spanish and American favorites including Iberian ham, tortilla de patatas, mini bacon cheeseburgers, and other selections. Once the doors opened, 200+ more Commanders fans poured in and IT. WAS. ON. When it was time to make the walk to the stadium, the energy was electric — Commanders fans filing through the streets of Madrid in burgundy and gold, ready to witness history. The Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins made NFL history that afternoon as the first teams to ever play a game in Spain, and Sports Fans Travel's group had a front-row seat to all of it.

There's something that can't be replicated about being present for the very first NFL game in a new country — the buzz in the stadium, the curiosity of the local fans, the sense that you're watching something being written into the history books in real time. It carries the weight of a Super Bowl, just with a backdrop of a foreign skyline and a language you're still figuring out.

The Itinerary

Friday – Arrival in Madrid
Touched down in the Spanish capital, checked in, and dove headfirst into the city. The evening kicked off with a traditional Spanish dinner and one of Madrid's premier Flamenco shows — unlimited wine, beer, and sangria included — setting the tone for a weekend to remember.

Saturday – City Exploration + Night Before Pep Rally
A free day to explore everything Madrid has to offer — world-class museums, iconic boulevards, incredible food, and some of the best people-watching in Europe. The evening brought the group back together for a Night Before Pep Rally to build the buzz ahead of a historic gameday.

Sunday – Historic Gameday
An all-inclusive tailgate at a classic Irish pub steps from the stadium — open bar, Iberian ham, tortilla de patatas, mini bacon cheeseburgers, plenty of drinks, and the legendary Santana Moss holding court before the group made the walk to the stadium together. The Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins then made history as the first NFL teams to ever play on Spanish soil.

Monday – Free Day in Madrid
A well-earned day to recover, explore, and soak in the city at your own pace on an included city tour before one final night in one of the world's greatest capitals.

Tuesday – Departure
Checked out and headed home, closing out an unforgettable long weekend in Madrid.

2025 Madrid Game: Washington Commanders vs Miami Dolphins Recap

Photo Courtesy: Associated Press

The first NFL game ever played on Spanish soil delivered exactly the kind of drama the historic occasion deserved. The Commanders and Dolphins traded field goals through a tense first half before Washington took the lead on a Deebo Samuel touchdown catch in the third quarter. The Dolphins answered with a ground score of their own, and the two teams headed to overtime locked at 13 — with 78,610 fans packed into the Santiago Bernabeu hanging on every play. At halftime, Puerto Rican icon Daddy Yankee and Argentine producer Bizarram performed in front of the crowd, making it a cultural spectacle as much as a football game.

Overtime lasted all of one play. Dolphins cornerback Jack Jones cut in front of Zach Ertz to intercept Marcus Mariota on Washington's first possession, setting up a short Riley Patterson field goal that gave Miami the 16-13 victory. It was a heartbreaker for Commanders fans — Washington had a chance to win it at the end of regulation but a 56-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right — but the result did little to diminish what everyone in that stadium witnessed. History was made in Madrid, and Sports Fans Travel's group was there for every second of it.