Spain’s triumphant return to Madrid
The Spain national football team has returned to Madrid following their victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026. The team landed at Barajas airport at 2:30 PM local time on Monday, where they were greeted by hundreds of fans. Captain Rodri was seen waving the trophy aloft as he disembarked the plane, still wearing his medal from the final match.
The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) confirmed the squad’s arrival, with players expressing their eagerness to celebrate with supporters. The team’s first official stop was the Zarzuela palace, where they were received by King Felipe and Queen Letizia at approximately 4:30 PM. Following this, they were scheduled to visit the Moncloa palace to meet with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez around 6 PM.
The celebrations are set to culminate in a public victory event titled “Reverse of the World.” This event will take place at the Cibeles Communications Palace in Madrid, with festivities scheduled to begin at 6:00 PM local time. Fans can attend free of charge until the venue reaches capacity.
World Cup victory details
Spain secured their second FIFA World Cup title by defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time at the New York New Jersey Stadium. This marks their first world crown since 2010, ending a 16-year wait for the title. The decisive goal came in the 106th minute from substitute Ferran Torres, who connected with a loose ball inside the penalty area after a cross from Pedro Porro and an assist from Nico Williams.
Throughout the match, La Roja maintained significant control, holding 68% possession and registering 20 shots, with 11 on target. In contrast, Argentina managed only four attempts and did not record a shot on target until the closing stages of extra time. Emiliano Martínez, Argentina’s goalkeeper, made 11 saves, a record for a FIFA World Cup final, but his efforts were not enough to prevent Spain’s victory.
Argentina’s challenge was further complicated when Enzo Fernández received a second yellow card early in extra time, leading to his dismissal. Despite a late opportunity for Giuliano Simeone, the defending champions were unable to force a penalty shootout, allowing Spain to seal their memorable win.
Post-match reactions and parade plans
The victory parade through Madrid is expected to draw a massive crowd, with more than a million people anticipated to descend on the city center. The parade route will conclude at the iconic Cibeles fountain, a traditional site for celebrations among Real Madrid fans. Musical events are also planned to begin at Cibeles around 6 PM, with the parade itself scheduled to start at 7 PM, though timings may vary.
José Luis Martínez Almeida, Madrid’s mayor, stated that the capital is preparing to give the team a fitting homecoming. He also noted the peaceful nature of the celebrations that followed Spain’s victory, with minimal incidents reported despite large crowds on the streets. The Spanish postal service, Correos, has announced the creation of a special stamp to commemorate the achievement, featuring the word CAMPEONES and two stars, symbolizing Spain’s two World Cup victories.
The post-match events of the final are currently under investigation by Fifa, which will determine if additional disciplinary action is required. The Uefa president, Aleksander Ceferin, did not attend the final in protest, citing discontent with Fifa. Spain’s players were also presented with Lego replicas of the World Cup trophy and 30 “Super Bowl-style” rings for 30 members of the team. The parade is scheduled to get underway in the next few minutes with a 6 PM BST (7 PM local time) start.
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Source: independent.co.uk
