Airbus A350 That Carried World Cup Trophy to Spain Flies to Argentina Days After Final
Photo Source: Iberia
After securing their second World Cup title, Spain’s national team returned home with the trophy aboard a specially painted Airbus A350-900 operated by Iberia. Just days after the historic celebration, the same aircraft flew to Argentina on July 22 — the team defeated by Spain in the tournament final on Sunday, July 19.
The Airbus A350-900, registered EC-MYX, transported the Spanish squad from Newark, United States, to Madrid, with the World Cup trophy traveling inside the cabin alongside the newly crowned champions. The remarkable moment captured the attention of both football and aviation fans, as the aircraft was carrying the ultimate symbol of Spain’s historic victory.
Photographer: Carlos Enamorado - AirTeamImages.com
After completing its special mission, the aircraft returned to regular Iberia operations. The Spanish airline, an official sponsor of the national team, is closely associated with “La Furia,” the nickname given to Spain’s squad.
Photo Source: Iberia
The first commercial flight after bringing the team home departed for Mexico City on Monday night, while Madrid was celebrating the champions with a traditional open-top bus parade through the city streets.
The following day, the A350 returned from one of the tournament host countries and landed back in Madrid on Wednesday (July 22). Just hours later, the aircraft departed the Spanish capital and headed to Buenos Aires, Argentina — the home country of the runners-up following their defeat in the World Cup final.
It remains unclear whether the assignment of the EC-MYX to the Buenos Aires route was simply an operational coincidence or an unintended post-final football rivalry moment. However, the timing certainly created an unusual connection between the aircraft and the two finalists.
Adding another interesting detail, an Airbus A330-200 operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas, featuring a special tail design honoring Lionel Messi — widely regarded as the greatest player in Argentine soccer history — was also scheduled to operate the same route on the same day. The Argentine aircraft, however, departed Buenos Aires later in the evening.
Photo Source: Mark Bess, CC BY-SA 2.0
Between football celebrations, aviation operations, and a remarkable scheduling coincidence, the Airbus A350 that carried the World Cup trophy back to Spain became part of another curious story just days after the final.
