Spain’s World Champions are back—and are being celebrated frenetically back home. Both King Felipe IV, the head of state, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez gave the national team a fitting welcome, while millions of people gathered in the streets of Madrid to celebrate in style.
“It was an epic triumph. You are an extraordinary and legendary team that has earned a permanent place in the history of our soccer,” said Felipe IV in his speech on Monday at the Royal Palace of La Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid, where everyone gathered to celebrate the Furia Roja’s World Cup victory.
“When our national team plays, we all play along,” said the king, who had watched the 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time live at the stadium in East Rutherford: “And by winning, you have won for all of Spain. Thanks to you, Spain is once again the soccer world champion; today we are the reigning world champions—both men and women. There is still much to celebrate. Enjoy every kiss, every gesture of appreciation, because you’ve earned them.”
King Felipe IV, his wife, Queen Letizia, and Princesses Leonor and Sofia celebrated with the team—including winning goal scorer Ferran Torres, rising star Lamine Yamal, and Rodri, who was named the tournament’s best player—as well as the golden FIFA World Cup trophy. “Campeones, Campeones” echoed throughout the royal residence before the world champions continued on to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s official residence. The team presented the Queen and Princesses Leonor and Sofia with jerseys bearing a golden “26”.
Delay and the Wait at the Cibeles Fountain
The Iberians’ celebrations on Monday didn’t go entirely according to plan, partly because the team didn’t land at Madrid-Barajas Airport until 2:33 p.m. on Monday afternoon—after a significant delay.
After a stop to visit Prime Minister Sánchez, the world champions set off from the Moncloa Palace in a double-decker bus for a victory parade along Madrid’s main thoroughfares. Their destination: the world-famous Cibeles Fountain, where the team traditionally celebrates its successes. Millions of enthusiastic people were expected to line the route of the victory parade—and they did come to cheer on their heroes.
“I’m literally on cloud nine,” said Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal in the final, shortly before the parade began—and he then enjoyed the triumphant welcome from the open-top bus. The players danced, sang, and repeatedly showed off the World Cup trophy they had won. At the parade’s endpoint, the Plaza de Cibeles—where the massive celebration was set to reach its climax—official estimates put the crowd at around 120,000 people—most of them wearing red shirts—waiting for the bus.
There, the Spaniards celebrated their second World Cup title since 2010—and there was plenty to celebrate, because Spain not only won the double of the European Championship and World Cup titles, but also set a new world record: Coach Luis de la Fuente’s team has not lost in 38 games.
