A church in Madrid has opened its doors for rough sleepers to watch Spain play in the World Cup.

The Church of San Antón, in the Chueca neighbourhood of the Spanish capital, has been screening the national team's matches free of charge for homeless people and local worshippers.

As temperatures in Madrid climbed towards 40 °C, volunteers prepared a cool indoor room where around 20 people gathered to watch Spain's group-stage match against Saudi Arabia.

Not everyone has welcomed the initiative.

Some critics within the Catholic Church argue that a place of worship should not be used for football screenings.

Father Juan Manuel Góngora, of the Diocese of Almería, criticised the arrangement, saying: "If you celebrate the Mass that all the great saints in history have celebrated, you break communion and you'd better start looking for a canon lawyer. If you turn a central parish into a bar to watch the national team, it means you're showing a preferential option for the poor."

Among those watching was Iván, a 44-year-old Barcelona fan from Triana.

He moved to Madrid for love and in search of work in construction. But after a series of setbacks, he has spent the past eight months homeless.

"It's very sad, I've been on the streets for eight months, but watching the game makes the afternoon more bearable," he told El Mundo.

Iván says San Antón has become more than a shelter. It is also a place where he can spend time with friends, including fellow football fans from Córdoba and Las Cabezas de San Juan.

Father Ángel, who oversees the church, says screenings will continue for as long as Spain remain in the tournament.