Spain’s World Cup Champions Parade Through Madrid

The 26-player Spanish squad and its coaching staff arrived in Madrid a day after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final held in New Jersey. After a brief meeting with King Felipe VI and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the team boarded an open-top bus that traveled from the vicinity of Moncloa Palace to Cibeles Square. The bus bore the slogan “Stars shine together” and displayed photos of the players. Along the route, the players carried the trophy, wore “Somos Campeones” shirts, and interacted with fans, while singers Aitana, Ana Mena and Lola Índigo provided entertainment.

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Authorities reported that roughly 120 000 people gathered at Cibeles Square for the ceremony, while officials estimated a total of 1.8 million people welcomed the team across Madrid. Temperatures reached up to 35 °C (95 °F), prompting some supporters to bring umbrellas. The celebration was punctuated by a tragic incident: local authorities said a 13-year-old in Salamanca died after a fountain he climbed collapsed.

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Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez praised the team, saying, “Thank you to the coaches and players for the style of play, the effort and the victory,” — Pedro Sánchez, prime minister — Pedro Sánchez, prime minister. Coach Luis de la Fuente described the experience as “emotional and proud,” adding that the squad was “filled with joy.” The leaders of the three co-host nations—U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney—congratulated the players after the final whistle.

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Spain’s victory marked its second men’s World Cup title and the first since 2010, making the nation the first to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup simultaneously (the women’s tournament was won in 2023). Commentators note that the triumph arrives amid a markedly improved economy, halved unemployment and cooled separatist tensions compared with the 2010 crisis period.

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• “Thank you to the coaches and players for the style of play, the effort and the victory,” — Pedro Sánchez, prime minister

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