Spain's World Cup-winning soccer team is set to return home on Monday, where the 26-man squad will be greeted by Spanish royalty and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. The team will then embark on a parade through central Madrid on an open-top bus, traveling from near Moncloa Palace to Cibeles Square. A public ceremony with the players is scheduled at the square, a traditional gathering spot for Spanish national teams and their supporters.
Spain secured the World Cup title on Sunday, defeating defending champions Argentina 1-0 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This marks Spain's second World Cup victory, following their 2010 win in South Africa. Following the final whistle, the Spanish capital erupted in celebrations, with thousands of fans filling streets and squares, many draped in national flags or wearing team colors. Revellers sang, danced, and set off flares into the early hours of Monday morning.
The victory, combined with the Women's World Cup title won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to simultaneously hold both the men's and women's world championships. The national delirium extended to supporters gathering at Madrid's Barajas airport ahead of the team's arrival, with many donning jerseys and waving flags. Crowds also began gathering near Cibeles Square to secure vantage points for the parade, with temperatures expected to reach 35 degrees Celsius (95 degrees Fahrenheit).
Amidst the widespread jubilation, local authorities reported that a 13-year-old boy in Salamanca died after a fountain he had climbed to celebrate collapsed. For many young Spanish fans, this triumph represents their first experience of witnessing the men's team win the World Cup and the subsequent national euphoria.