Spain's World Cup champion soccer team returned home to a massive public celebration Monday, with nearly two million people lining the streets of Madrid for a parade through the city. The players also received a royal welcome as the country marked its latest international title.
According to the AP, the celebration drew one of the largest crowds seen in the Spanish capital for a sporting event. The team was greeted with flags, chants, and scenes of widespread celebration across the city as the players made their way through the streets.
Spain's victory at the 2026 World Cup, held primarily in the United States, was the culmination of a tournament run that drew widespread attention from soccer analysts and fans. Reporting from multiple outlets noted that the win reflected broader strengths in Spanish soccer that had been developing over several years.
The final itself was not without controversy. Reporting from The Athletic described Argentina's conduct in the final match as disgraceful, citing what was characterized as petulance from the Argentine side. The New Yorker framed Spain's win as a case of method defeating madness.
The royal welcome added a formal dimension to the street celebrations. Spain has a tradition of honoring its national sports champions with official ceremonies, and the World Cup victory earned the team one of the more prominent receptions in recent memory.
The parade through Madrid brought the tournament to a close on Spanish soil, with the players and coaching staff sharing the celebration directly with the fans who had followed the team's run to the championship.
