Spain’s national football team received a rapturous welcome in Madrid on Monday evening as over one million supporters gathered to celebrate the country's latest World Cup triumph. The team, affectionately known as La Roja, traveled through the capital city on an open-top bus, greeting a sea of fans who lined the route to cheer for the players. Supporters held their mobile phones aloft to document the parade, filling the air with chants of "España, España" as the team displayed the World Cup trophy.
The festivities saw the city center, Metro stations, and transit routes turned red and white in honor of the champions. This victory marks the first time the squad has returned to Spanish soil with the trophy since their historic win at the 2010 tournament in South Africa, 16 years ago. The team arrived at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport on an Iberia flight from the United States and spent a few hours with their families before the public celebrations began. The parade route was designed to culminate in Cibeles Square, the traditional site for major national sporting celebrations.
Earlier in the day, the national team was hosted at the Zarzuela Palace by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, who were joined by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. During the ceremony, the players led a chant of “Campeones, campeones.” King Felipe VI hailed the victory as an “epic triumph,” thanking the team for their performance throughout the tournament and dismissing past criticisms, noting that nothing could overshadow the joy of bringing the trophy home.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also met with the players and coaching staff to honor their achievement. He praised their dedication and the quality of football displayed throughout the tournament, encouraging the team to look toward the future by suggesting, “Why not believe that, as the saying goes, good things come in threes?” as he looked ahead to the 2030 tournament.
While celebrations continued in Spain, FIFA announced it has opened disciplinary proceedings against Argentina. The governing body is investigating incidents involving several Argentine players and a member of their coaching staff during the World Cup final to determine if any sanctions are necessary.
