The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has been forced to apologise after the massive gaffe.
As the song played, gold medallist Carolina Marin stood on the podium and cringed.
Marin successfully defended her world title in Jakarta, Indonesia, against India's Saina Nehwal.
But at the medal ceremony the version of Spain's Royal March that played was the one from Gen Francisco Franco's far-right dictatorship.
The country officially got rid of the lyrics in 1978. Since Franco's death the Royal March has been played without words.
The words were written by poet Jose Maria Peman in 1928 and were adopted by Franco's nationalists in 1939 after their victory over left-wing fighters in the Spanish Civil War.
The BWF said in a statement: "An older version of the anthem was played during the Women's Singles medal ceremony following Marin's retention of the title which she won a year ago.
"The Badminton World Federation and the hosts, the Indonesia Badminton Association, sincerely regret this unfortunate mistake."
The lyrics include the words: "Spain triumphs! The anvils and wheels sing to the rhythm of the hymn of the faith.
"Together with them let's stand and sing the new powerful life of labour and peace."
This isn't the first time a sporting event has offended athletes with a massive howler.
In 2012 Olympic organisers had to apologise to North Korean athletes for showing their images next to the South Korean flag.
And earlier in the year Great Britain Hockey accidentally played the apartheid anthem Die Stem when South Africa won a London Cup match.
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