The belief that major sporting victories boost birth rates clashes with official data. In the Community of Madrid, births fell by 2% in 2010, the year of Spain's first World Cup, and the downward trend continued in the following years.
The euphoria from Iniesta's goal in the 2010 South Africa World Cup did not translate into a spike in births in the Community of Madrid nine months later. This is reflected in the figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), which debunk the myth of the sporting 'baby boom'. In 2010, when Spain lifted its first World Cup, there were 73,935 births registered in the region, compared to 75,421 in 2009: a decrease of 1,486 babies, equivalent to a 2% drop.
INE data: continued decline since 2009
The historical series of the Natural Movement of the Population from the INE leaves no room for interpretation. After the world title, birth rates in Madrid continued their downward path. In 2011, births dropped to 72,447, and by 2024 the figure stood at 54,826, less than half of that in 2009. Experts point out that structural factors, such as job insecurity or the delay in maternity age, weigh much more than any sporting event.
Madrid psychologist and sexologist Laura Moreno explains that collective euphoria does not always translate into increased sexual activity. "Before the match, there is tension and nerves, it’s not the best moment,” she asserts. And afterwards, although there may be an “emotional contagion”, desire does not always materialise into sexual relations. A survey by Platanomelón reveals that only 20% of respondents believe that the World Cup influences their libido.
Shared excitement does not always lead to bed
Moreno details that "collective effervescence" can generate "more physical contact in general", but that the connection with a partner is key. 88% of survey participants claim to have felt a stronger bond after celebrating an achievement together. However, 46% had never considered the relationship between football and sex. "We talk about emotional contagion, but not about an automatic trigger for desire,” the expert clarifies.
For the people of Madrid who experienced that July 11, 2010, the celebrations in the streets and the giant screens in the capital were the epicentre of the festivities. But the INE data shows that, despite the intensity of the moment, the demographic trend in the region continued on its own path, marked by the economic crisis and social changes. The myth of the football-related 'baby boom', at least in Madrid, does not withstand the contrast with statistical reality.
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