Spain‘s World Cup-winning football team received a royal welcome and paraded through the streets of Madrid, greeted by an estimated crowd of nearly 2 million people. The team, comprising 26 players and coaching staff, met with the country’s royals and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez following their 1-0 victory over Argentina in the final held in New Jersey, United States.
Prime Minister Sanchez commended the team, stating, “Thank you to the coaches and players for the style of play, the effort, and the victory. We have truly enjoyed watching you play.” The squad then embarked on an open-top bus for a celebratory parade through central Madrid. The bus, adorned with the phrase “Stars shine together” and photos of the footballers, carried the World Cup trophy as players wore shirts proclaiming “Somos Campeones” (“We Are Champions”).
Luis de la Fuente, Spain‘s coach, expressed his joy before the parade, remarking, “It’s been an emotional and proud experience to represent a wonderful country with such passionate and devoted fans. We are filled with joy.” The parade route extended from near Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s official residence, to Cibeles Square. Authorities reported that approximately 120,000 people gathered at Cibeles Square for a ceremony, with some fans arriving early on Monday morning, equipped with umbrellas to shield themselves from temperatures reaching 35 Celsius (95 F).
Cibeles Square is a traditional site for celebrations by Spain‘s national teams and is also used by Real Madrid for title celebrations. Singers Aitana, Ana Mena, and Lola Índigo were scheduled to perform for the crowd at the ceremony. Officials estimated that around 1.8 million people welcomed the team across Madrid.
Victory and celebrations
Spain secured their second World Cup title, and their first since 2010, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in extra time. Following the final whistle, Madrid erupted in celebrations, with thousands of supporters filling the streets from bars and restaurants. Many fans were seen draped in Spanish flags or wearing the team’s colours, congregating in areas like Puerta del Sol and other major squares. The celebrations, which included singing, dancing, and setting off flares, continued into the early hours of Monday morning.
Victor Alvarez, a 19-year-old fan, shared his enthusiasm, saying, “I’m very happy. I’ve slept three or four hours, but for the team, I’ll do whatever it takes.” The men’s victory, combined with Spain‘s Women’s World Cup win in 2023, marks the first time a European nation has held both titles simultaneously. Gema Rodero, a 59-year-old civil servant, described the experience as “very exciting,” preferring to watch the match at home to remain focused and joyful.
The triumph is particularly significant for many young supporters, as it marks their first time witnessing the men’s team lift the trophy and the accompanying national excitement. However, celebrations were marred by a tragic incident in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, where a 13-year-old died after a fountain he had climbed with friends collapsed.
The team received congratulations from the leaders of the co-hosting nations: US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Moments from the final
Rodrigo Hernández, known as Rodri, was a central figure in the celebrations, collecting the World Cup trophy after the final. He also received the award for the tournament’s best player. Other individual accolades included Pau Cubarsí, who received the young player award, and Unai Simón, who was awarded the Golden Glove. Each Spanish player received a replica of the trophy in a Louis Vuitton trunk, as well as a Lego version.
Before the final match, Marc Cucurella reportedly buried a coin in the pitch, echoing a tradition from 2010. After the victory, Sergio Ramos, who had shown the trophy to the stands in 2010, placed it on a plinth for the new generation of players to collect. Nico Williams found his mother in the front row to give her his medal, while Lamine Yamal shared an embrace with Lionel Messi, an image noted for its significance. Actor Javier Bardem was also seen embracing Borja Iglesias.
Ferran Torres described the win as a “great liberation,” reflecting on past difficulties and stating, “Destiny is written: God gives to those who deserve.” In the dressing room, which Cucurella noted was the same one he used during a previous Club World Cup, champagne was opened for a brief celebration before the team’s scheduled flight to Spain. Players departed laden with memorabilia, including bags, shirts, balls, and boots, and some wore commemorative rings. Borja Iglesias was seen with a large bag and a red speaker, while Lamine Yamal, after an anti-doping check, wore orange sunglasses and multiple chains.
The team’s dominance in the final was evident, with Torres‘s goal being Spain‘s 20th shot of the match. Argentina did not manage a single shot on target throughout the game, and their first attempt came in the 115th minute. This performance marked only the third time in 900 World Cup games, for which Opta has statistics, that a team failed to register a shot. Simón commented on the team’s defensive strength, saying, “If my gloves could talk, they would say they didn’t have much work to do.” Aymeric Laporte added that unlike many teams, Spain does not overly rely on its back line.
The victory was attributed to the collective effort and the system implemented by coach De la Fuente. His coaching career began in the third tier with Deportivo Alavés in November 2011, followed by a period out of club management. He later joined the Spanish federation’s youth system, winning the European Championship with the under-19s and under-21s, and then with the senior side, culminating in this World Cup triumph. Simón praised the manager, stating, “The manager is outstanding; he has been our leader.” Cucurella, who had promised to get a tattoo of De la Fuente‘s face if Spain won the World Cup, was reportedly contemplating the placement of the tattoo.
De la Fuente jokingly acknowledged Cucurella‘s predicament, saying, “You made a bad mistake,” but added, “they are men of their word.” He highlighted that 10 of the players had previously played under him at junior level, with his first title being the Under-19 Euros in 2015.
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Source: aljazeera.com
