Key Takeaways
- Spanish football team arrives in Madrid after clinching their second World Cup title.
- One million fans expected to line parade route for open-top bus celebration.
- Players will be greeted by King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
Spain’s newly crowned World Cup champions have returned home, greeted by a jubilant nation. The team touched down in Madrid on Monday following their 1-0 victory over Argentina in New Jersey, securing Spain's second World Cup title after a grueling extra-time match.
Captain Rodri held the World Cup trophy aloft as he descended from the Iberia plane, marking the triumphant arrival of the Spanish team. The victory has sparked an outpouring of national pride, with many younger supporters celebrating for the first time since Spain’s last triumph in 2010.
The celebrations began early on Monday morning, with Madrid's main avenue, Castellana, bearing the marks of a raucous night – tarmac strewn with trash and broken glass. Some supporters slept on the pavement or benches, while others staggered home under the influence of alcohol. Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida acknowledged the late-night revelry, stating that the celebration was more challenging for everyone to fall asleep.
The players will be received by King Felipe VI at Zarzuela Palace and then met by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at La Moncloa. A grand open-top bus parade is planned, starting from Moncloa and heading to Cibeles square, where a ceremony involving the players will take place. Around one million people are expected to line the parade route.
The Spanish press has been effusive in their praise of the team, describing them as 'the kings of all-time.' Marca, for instance, celebrated Spain's second star that will now be stitched into the country’s sporting history. The victory is particularly significant given that it was secured against favourites France in the semi-finals and then against Argentina.
In a unique twist, Spain also holds the World Cup trophy with its women's side, making this the first time a country has both trophies at the same time. This achievement sets the stage for an exciting future, as Spain will defend their crown in 2030 on home soil, one of the World Cup hosts along with Portugal and Morocco.
For many supporters, the victory is not just about the win but also about the joy it brings to a nation that has been waiting for this moment. Bruno Gonzalez del Yerro, a 32-year-old financier, expressed his excitement: 'We’ll have to celebrate it one way or another, given that it only happens every four years and that Spain hadn’t won it for about sixteen years now – it definitely deserves a party.'
