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Fans wave to the Spanish national team during the victory parade celebrating their 2026 FIFA World Cup triumph. The Spanish team were crowned 2026 FIFA World Cup champions yesterday after beating Argentina 1–0 with a goal from Ferran Torres. César Vallejo Rodríguez/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
More than 1 million people lined the streets of Madrid on Monday evening to welcome Spain's newly crowned football world champions after their World Cup triumph in the United States.
Players danced, sang and held aloft the World Cup trophy as an open-top bus carried the team through the city centre. Authorities estimated that around 120,000 fans were gathered at Cibeles square alone, where the celebrations reached their climax.
"I am literally on cloud nine," striker Ferran Torres, who scored the extra-time winner in Sunday's 1-0 World Cup final victory over Argentina, said shortly before the parade began.
Fans, many dressed in Spain's red colours, had been celebrating since early evening with live music and entertainment despite temperatures remaining well above 30 degrees Celsius.
The team had returned from the US earlier on Monday, with captain Rodri carrying the World Cup trophy down the aircraft's gangway on arrival.
Later they were welcomed by King Felipe VI at Madrid's Royal Palace.
"You are tired – but what a wonderful kind of tiredness. Congratulations," Felipe told the players, praising their World Cup triumph as "epic" and describing the squad as a "legendary and historic team."
"There is still much to celebrate. Enjoy every kiss, every gesture of recognition, for you have earned them," the king said, thanking the team on behalf of all Spaniards and noting that Spain now holds both the men's and women's World Cup titles.
Felipe had travelled to Sunday's World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, with Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. The royal family took part in the trophy presentation after Spain's victory, with the monarch embracing several players and posing with the World Cup trophy.
The team later paid a courtesy visit to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who wrote on X after the final: "WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS. Our national team is tremendous. Thanks, Team."
Spain secured their second men's World Cup title with Torres' extra-time winner against Argentina, 16 years after lifting their first trophy in South Africa. Spain's women are also the reigning world champions, making the country the first to hold both the men's and women's World Cup titles simultaneously.
The victory sparked celebrations across Spain but was also marred by tragedy. Local media reported that a 13-year-old boy was killed in the town of Ciudad Rodrigo when a stone pillar of a fountain collapsed under the weight of people celebrating on it. Two other people were injured, and local authorities declared three days of mourning.
The celebrations in Madrid marked the end of the team's official festivities before the players disperse for their summer holidays beginning on Tuesday.
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