Madrid celebrated on Monday as the Spain national team returned home, greeted by nearly 2 million people following their victory in the 2026 World Cup final. Players paraded through the city center on an open-top bus before joining the Plaza de Cibeles for an evening of celebrations and chants.
An extraordinary welcome in the streets of Madrid
Arriving around 1:00 p.m., the Spanish delegation began festivities with official receptions hosted by King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, both of whom attended the decisive match in New Jersey. From the Moncloa Palace the team boarded an open-top bus and traversed central Madrid, cheered by a crowd estimated at 1.8 million along the route.
Cibeles: stage for rejoicing and concerts
The procession reached Plaza de Cibeles at approximately 10:00 p.m., where about 120,000 supporters had already gathered after being entertained by several Spanish pop artists. Players lifted the trophy, sang with fans and extended the celebrations until nearly midnight, despite temperatures topping 35°C. Defender Marc Cucurella was even seen playing the drums, according to footage from the event.
Sporting triumph in brief
Spain won the final on Sunday in New Jersey, defeating Argentina 1–0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. The title is Spain’s second World Cup triumph, a fact repeatedly noted during the acclaims in Madrid.
A shadow over the celebrations
The festivities were marred by a tragedy and other incidents elsewhere in Spain. Overnight Sunday, a 13-year-old boy died in Ciudad Rodrigo after being struck by a component of a fountain where celebrations were taking place. Authorities also made three arrests, and nearly 30 people required medical treatment following violence during demonstrations in Barcelona.
The capital thus experienced a day of collective jubilation, tempered by the grave events reported, while players and supporters continued celebrating the world title late into the night.
