Thousands brave 34C heat to join Spain’s World Cup celebrations in Madrid | Spain
Tens of thousands of Spaniards, many still shell-shocked and feeling soft after the country’s historic World Cup victory over Argentina, descended on central Madrid on Monday night to welcome the victorious national team home.
La Rojawho beat Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey on Sunday night, received the first of many heroes when they touched down at Madrid’s Barajas airport at 2.30pm local time on Monday.
The Spanish captain, Rodri, raised the trophy as he left the plane, the medal he received last night around his neck. The team posed for a photo before moving on to the fourth stage where hundreds of cheering fans, many in Spain stripped and wore the red and yellow of their country. rojigualda flag, waited and hoped to catch a glimpse of the newly minted champions.
Their first stop was an audience with King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofía, at the Zarzuela Palace, northwest of Madrid, where the king paid tribute to their talent and determination.
“It was a milestone victory,” he said. “It was a privilege and a joy for the four of us to see you play in the final and we were able to celebrate with you at that moment of lifting the trophy, we are very grateful to all of Spain.”
Felipe also praised their resilience, saying: “You suffered, you came home injured and tired, you endured criticism, but what is all that compared to the joy of bringing the trophy home?”
The next meeting of the delegation was to visit the Moncloa palace – the office and residence of the prime minister – to see Pedro Sánchez. The Socialist prime minister gave the players and technical staff “a big thank you … for the game, for the effort and for the victory”.
Speaking at Moncloa Palace, Rodri said “winning for your country is the best thing there is”. He added: “This generation has grown up watching [Iker] Casillas and [Andrés] Iniesta raised the cup [in 2010] and to be able to do that today is the biggest thing you can do in football.”
A highlight for the fans – who braved the 34C evening heat – was the triumphal procession from Moncloa to the Plaza de Cibeles just outside Madrid’s city hall. They crowded the square, some sheltering from the sun under umbrellas, as the group approached in an open-top bus.
The Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez Almeida, told Radio Nacional de España that the capital was working to give the team the repatriation they deserved. He also praised the peaceful and joyful scenes that greeted Spain’s victory on Sunday night.
“Even though there were thousands and thousands of people on the streets last night, there were no incidents in the city,” he said.
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“We are preparing everything for tonight … Our focus is how we can celebrate and salute a team that will live forever in our memory.”
The victory – Spain’s second men’s World Cup victory after its victory against the Netherlands in South Africa in 2010 – was witnessed by hundreds of thousands of Spaniards who followed the game in bars, parks, stadiums, bullrings, and large arenas in central Madrid. The Spanish media praised it as a “unique experience” made possible by a small group that reflects all that is good about the modern, diverse and determined world.
This win was highly praised by the political class of the country.
“WE ARE THE LEADERS OF THE WORLD!!” Sánchez wrote on social media. “Amazing national team. Thank you, team.”
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of Spain’s conservative People’s party, was equally liberal in capitalization. “Well-deserved WORLD CHAMPIONS! Values, hard work, humility, and faith. He made history. There are no limits in this team … Long live Spain!!!” wrote to X.
Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party, also congratulated the party for carrying “the Spanish flag so far and so high”.
Spain’s postal service, Correos, has announced the creation of a special stamp to commemorate what it called “one of the greatest achievements in the history of Spanish sport”. The red colored stamp will bear the word CAMPEONES and feature two stars – one for each of Spain’s World Cup victories.
