Fans of the World Cup Spain will return to the royal welcome, walking through Madrid | World Cup 2026

in Spain The football team that won the World Cup has returned home, and about 2 million people were there to greet the team in the streets of Madrid.

The 26 players and their managers met the royals and the country’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday when they arrived in the Spanish capital, a day after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey, United States.

“Thank you to the coaches and players for the game, the effort, and the win,” Sanchez said. “We are so glad to see you play.”

The group then boarded an open-top bus to the center of Madrid. “The stars shine together” was written on the bus, which also carried pictures of football players.

The players carried the World Cup trophy and wore shirts with “Somos Campeones” (“We Are Champions”). They danced and chatted with fans along the way.

“It was exciting and proud to represent a great country with dedicated and devoted fans,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said before the event. “We are filled with joy.”

The group marched through Madrid’s famous landmarks from near the Moncloa Palace, where the prime minister lives, to Cibeles Square, where officials told reporters that around 120,000 people attended the event.

Groups of fans had started to take up their positions near Cibeles late Monday morning before the team, bringing umbrellas to protect them from the sun and temperatures reaching 35 Celsius (95 F).

This stadium is where previous Spanish teams and their supporters have gathered to celebrate. It is also the place where Real Madrid celebrate their titles.

Singers Aitana, Ana Mena, and Lola Índigo were scheduled to entertain the crowd at the event in Cibeles.

Officials say around 1.8 million people welcomed the team to Madrid.

Spain walked away with the trophy on Sunday after Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time to secure their second World Cup trophy – and first since 2010 in South Africa.

The group was praised by the leaders of the three countries that participated in the competition: US President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.

After the final whistle, Madrid erupted in celebration, with thousands of supporters pouring into the streets from bars and restaurants, many wearing Spanish flags or team colours.

Crowds filled the city center’s Puerta del Sol and other main squares, singing, dancing, and lighting bonfires while car horns blared.

Many celebrated Sunday’s victory well into the early hours of Monday morning.

“I’m very happy. I slept three or four hours, but for the team, I’ll do whatever it takes,” said 19-year-old Victor Alvarez.

The men’s win, combined with Spain’s 2023 Women’s World Cup, would make it the first European country to hold both titles simultaneously.

“Honestly, it was a lot of fun. We used to not go to bars or anything, to experience it at home, very stable and very happy, very happy,” said Gema Rodero, a 59-year-old civil servant.

Celebrations died down after authorities said a 13-year-old boy in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, he was dead The fountain that he climbed on with his friends to have fun when he fell.

For many young fans, this victory is their first time witnessing the men’s team lift the trophy and the national controversy that has followed.