Spain Celebrates Second FIFA World Cup Victory in Jubilant Street Parties

Key Takeaways

Thousands of Spaniards celebrated Spain's second FIFA World Cup win with fireworks and flares in Madrid.
Fans from Barcelona, Malaga, and Tunisia joined the festivities to support their team.
Lamine Yamal, a player born in Rocafonda, symbolizes unity for his hometown community.

In an electrifying display of national pride, thousands of Spaniards danced in the streets and set off fireworks as they celebrated Spain's second FIFA World Cup victory over Argentina. The joyous celebrations continued into the early hours of Monday morning after a tense extra-time match that ended with a 1-0 win for La Roja at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium.

Mario, from Barcelona, travelled to Madrid specifically to witness the historic moment. 'I drove here from Barcelona in order to see the game with the fans here in Madrid because I am from Barcelona,' he told Reuters. The victory was a source of immense happiness for Islem, who had flown all the way from Tunisia: 'I know it was worth it and I knew they would win, Viva España.'

In cities across Spain, including Barcelona where many of the Spanish players are based, fans erupted in celebration as soon as the final whistle blew. In Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles, Alvaro, who had watched the game on a giant screen from Malaga, was overwhelmed by the victory: 'I’m so happy. It’s so beautiful!'

The celebrations extended to Lamine Yamal’s hometown of Rocafonda in Mataro, north of Barcelona. The 19-year-old forward, born to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, has become a symbol of unity for the community. Residents still regard him as one of their own despite his success with Spain and Barcelona.

On the community pitch where Lamine honed his skills as a boy, there is now a mural featuring the player who represents the possible. Throughout his career, he has honoured Rocafonda with his trademark '304' hand gesture after scoring goals – a reference to the neighbourhood’s postal code. During the World Cup, he wore a headband with ‘Rocafonda’ on it and sported flags of his parents’ countries on his boots, underscoring football as an example of racial and social harmony.

The victory has not only brought joy but also a sense of unity among Spaniards from diverse backgrounds. As red flares pierced the night sky in Madrid, fans sang 'A Viva España' with renewed vigour, celebrating their team’s achievement and the spirit it embodies.