Spain's King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied by their daughters Princesses Leonor and Sofía, hosted the national football team at Zarzuela Palace to celebrate their 2026 World Cup victory. The jubilant team was greeted by the Royal Family following their triumph in a match against Argentina, decided by a late extra-time goal from Barcelona's Ferran Torres. Lionel Messi was noted to be in tears at the final whistle.
Princesses Leonor and Sofía, aged 20 and 19 respectively, wore customized shirts bearing their names as they admired the World Cup trophy. Queen Letizia, 53, was dressed in a red linen dress by Adolfo Domínguez, and King Felipe, 58, wore a navy blazer and grey trousers.
The celebratory atmosphere in Spain contrasted sharply with the reaction of the Argentinian team. Following their defeat, the Argentinian players, coaching staff, and supporters turned their backs as Spain lifted the World Cup trophy. This gesture occurred despite the customary practice of observing the opposing team's celebration at major tournament finals. Footage showed the Argentinian team facing away as gold confetti rained down on the Spanish squad.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented medals to both teams on stage at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Trump was seen interacting with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and greeting Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI. Javier Milei, the president of Argentina, reportedly watched the game from home.
The World Cup final, which drew an estimated 1.5 to 1.8 billion viewers, was also attended by Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in a VIP suite. The match itself was described as a drab encounter, with Spain dominating possession and Argentina's aggressive tactics, which had troubled England in the semi-finals, proving ineffective.
Spain's path to the final included a semi-final victory over France. During that tense match, the Royal Family expressed their support, with King Felipe hugging his wife and daughters as the nation celebrated a 2-0 win. They shared a congratulatory message on Instagram, praising the team's performance and wishing them luck for the final.
However, the Royal Family had previously drawn attention for their attire at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards. Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía wore outfits in shades of blue, red, and white, which some observers noted resembled the colors of the French flag, just hours before Spain's World Cup semi-final match against France. This coincidence sparked debate among royal followers online, with some suggesting it was a misstep and others defending it as an unrelated choice or a result of lighting.
During the semi-final match, Spanish player Lamine Yamal wore a headband with the postcode of his home neighborhood, a detail highlighted as a connection to his roots. Spain's victory in that game was attributed to strong midfield control and effective defense, sending a message to other strong contenders.