Nearly 2 million fans pack streets of Madrid to celebrate national team’s return
Suman Naishadham And Fairy Tales Azzoni
Madrid: Spain’s World Cup-winning football team returned home on Monday and a crowd of nearly 2 million people were on hand to celebrate the team on the streets of Madrid.
The 26 players and coaching staff arrived in the Spanish capital a day after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey, where they met with the country’s royal family and then-Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“I thank the coaches and players for the style of play, the effort and the victory,” Sánchez said. “We really enjoyed watching you play.”
The team then boarded an open-top bus for a raucous parade through central Madrid. “The stars shine together” was written on the bus, which also had photos of the football players.
Carrying the World Cup trophy and wearing jerseys that read Somos Campeones (We Are the Champions), the players danced along the route and interacted with fans.
“It was an emotional and proud experience to represent a great country with such passionate and loyal fans,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said before the parade began. “We are filled with happiness.”
The team traveled through Madrid’s historic streets, from near the Moncloa Palace, the official residence of the prime minister, to Cibeles Square; officials here told local media that approximately 120,000 people were present for the ceremony.
The actors were introduced one by one before entering the stage set up in the square. They each chose the song that would play when they entered. Celebrating his 25th birthday, Álex Baena participated in the World Cup with a trophy.
After being introduced, Coach De la Fuente was thrown into the air by his players. The coach was among those who accompanied the song played for them.
The ceremony ended with the entire Spain team lifting the trophy again, just like Sunday’s awards ceremony, but now in front of local spectators.
Groups of fans began taking their places near Cibeles before the team’s arrival late Monday morning, bringing their umbrellas with them to protect themselves from the sun and temperatures reaching up to 35 degrees.
The square is where former Spain teams and their fans gathered to celebrate. This is also the traditional celebration venue where Real Madrid won the championship.
Officials estimate that a total of 1.8 million people welcomed the team to Madrid.
Spain won the trophy for the first time since 2010 in South Africa on Sunday (Monday AEST) after Ferran Torres scored in extra time to claim their second World Cup title.
The team was congratulated by the leaders of the three countries hosting the tournament (US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney).
After the final whistle, celebrations began in Madrid; Many of the thousands of fans who poured into the streets from bars and restaurants were clad in Spanish flags or wearing team colours.
Crowds filled the capital’s Puerta de Sol and other major squares; He was singing, dancing and lighting flares while honking car horns.
Many people celebrated Sunday’s victory until the early hours of Monday morning.
“I’m very happy. I slept three or four hours, but I will do whatever it takes for the team,” said 19-year-old Victor Álvarez.
The men’s victory combined with the Women’s World Cup won by Spain in 2023 makes the European nation the first to hold both titles simultaneously.
“It was very exciting, to be honest. We chose not to go to any bars or anything, but to experience it at home, focused, very happy, very enjoyable,” said officer Gema Rodero, 59.
However, the celebrations were marred after local authorities reported that a 13-year-old boy in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, died when the fountain he and his friends climbed to commemorate the victory collapsed.
For many young fans, this victory was their first time witnessing the men’s team lift the trophy and the national delirium that followed.
Spain is very different from 2010, when the Iberian country was struggling with a debt crisis, 20 percent unemployment and nationalist regions struggling to gain greater autonomy.
The economy is expanding, the unemployment rate has halved and the country is expected to be among the fastest-growing major economies in the Eurozone again. Nationalist and separatist tensions have decreased significantly.
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