Just past midnight, cheers erupted from blocks of lit flats in central Madrid as Spain secured its 2026 World Cup victory. Hours later, people of all generations remained in the streets amid a tropical night with temperatures near 30°C. In Plaza de Olavide, fans gathered around screens, some sitting on the ground while children and dogs ran around. A girl played on the swings, her Spanish-flag cape fluttering.
A Global Celebration in Spain's Streets
Argentinian Lionel Messi jerseys were visible throughout the crowd, and many fans gathered at a nearby Argentinian bar. This reflects the more than 400,000 Argentinians living in Spain. Messi, whose career is embedded with Barcelona, remains a football hero in Spain. Barcelona hosted one of the largest public gatherings, with over 30,000 people watching on a giant screen installed by the city council.
The team’s diversity mirrors the country's regional variety. Players hail from Catalonia, home of 19-year-old star Lamine Yamal, the Basque Country, and even France (Aymeric Laporte). Backgrounds are as diverse as the population, with more than 10 million people—about 20% of the population—born abroad.
Belonging to Millions Worldwide
Ferran Torres, who scored the extra-time goal, said his achievement belonged to “47 million people, not just me or my teammates.” However, the success felt global, from Gaza, where Spain represents solidarity with the Palestinian cause, to Brazil. Displaced Palestinians watched the final in Gaza City, as captured in photographs.
The celebratory mood echoed the women's national team's World Cup win three years prior, but that joy was overshadowed by the Jenni Hermoso sexual harassment case. Sixteen years ago, the author watched Spain’s first World Cup victory in Brussels during the eurozone crisis, a time of property bubble burst and soaring unemployment. This win feels more rounded, as Spain’s economy has become one of the strongest in the developed world, with cities more prosperous and dynamic.
Political Contrasts and Team Spirit
The national team is young, diverse, and professional. Cheers in Lavapiés, a diverse Madrid neighborhood, felt momentous. Players offered maturity under pressure, as when Yamal responded to former prime minister Mariano Rajoy’s racist comments about the French national team, contrasting with the politician’s crudeness. The contrast between football’s power to promote integration and constant partisan battles in Spanish public life is stark.
Coach Luis de la Fuente and his players repeat a simple message: “We are a team. We embrace diversity while working together towards a common goal.” Spain’s strength lies in cohesiveness greater than individual brilliance. This sense of shared purpose is what Spanish public life may be missing most.
Football's Lasting Impact
Despite its fleeting nature, football’s appeal can inspire shared spirit. At its best, it fosters solidarity; at worst, it fuels violence, as Argentina’s team showed. Everyone sees what they want in the Spanish team—nationalism, diversity, or great football. The variety of fans on the street, regardless of age, origin, or gender, reminds us of football’s power to unite.
The motto of the World Cup host country, the United States, comes to mind: E pluribus unum—out of many, one. Unity in diversity remains an unfulfilled ideal in the US and worldwide, including Spain. But for a night, amid chants, klaxons, and fireworks, one could hope it is still possible.
