Tens of thousands of Spaniards braved 34°C heat on Monday evening to welcome the national football team home after their historic World Cup victory against Argentina. The celebrations, centered on Madrid's Plaza de Cibeles, marked the country's second men's World Cup win.
Team arrives to heroes' welcome
La Roja touched down at Madrid's Barajas airport at 2:30 p.m. local time on Monday, a day after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey. Captain Rodri waved the trophy as he emerged from the plane, his winner's medal around his neck. The team posed for photos before entering terminal four, where hundreds of fans in Spain shirts and waving the red-and-yellow rojigualda flag awaited them.
Royal audience and prime minister meeting
The squad's first stop was a meeting with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and their daughters at the Zarzuela palace. The king praised the team's talent and determination, calling the victory an “epic triumph.” He added, “It’s been a privilege and a joy for the four of us to see you play in the final and to be able to celebrate with you that moment of lifting the cup, with immense thanks from all of Spain.”
The team then visited Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa palace. Sánchez offered “massive thanks … for the game, for the effort and for the victory.” Rodri said, “Winning for your country is the most beautiful thing there is. This generation grew up watching Casillas and Iniesta lift the cup [in 2010] and having been able to do that today is the biggest thing you can do in football.”
Victory parade and fan turnout
The highlight for fans was the victory parade from Moncloa to Plaza de Cibeles. An open-topped bus carried the team through crowds that filled the square, with some using umbrellas to shield from the 34°C evening heat. Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez Almeida told Radio Nacional de España that the capital had prepared a fitting homecoming. He noted that despite thousands on the streets Sunday night, there were “practically no incidents.”
National reaction
The match was watched by hundreds of thousands across Spain in bars, parks, and on giant screens. The Spanish press hailed it as “a unique collective experience” made possible by a young, diverse team. Political leaders also celebrated: Sánchez wrote “WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!” on social media, while opposition leader Alberto Núñez Feijóo declared “Well-deserved WORLD CHAMPIONS!” Santiago Abascal of Vox congratulated the team for carrying “the flag of Spain so far and so high.”
The Spanish postal service, Correos, announced a special stamp featuring the word CAMPEONES and two stars for Spain's two World Cup victories.
