La Roja lifted their second World Cup in the 2026 World Cup. Two million fans flooded the streets of Madrid to welcome the champions, who landed at Barajas with a 90-minute delay and the trophy already in Rodri Hernández's hands.
How did the celebration unfold?
The team touched down at around 14:25 at Madrid-Barajas, where Rodri Hernández displayed the World Cup as soon as the plane doors opened. The players were greeted with applause before boarding an open-top bus to a central hotel. The schedule kicked off with a visit to the Zarzuela Palace, where Felipe VI met the team and called the triumph "epic". The king highlighted the squad's ability to overcome tournament adversities.
After the meeting with the Royal House, Pedro Sánchez welcomed the champions at Moncloa. The prime minister told them his clear wish: "To conquer a third star in 2030, when Spain hosts the World Cup". At 20:00, the bus set off through Madrid's main streets, from Princesa to Puerta de Alcalá, always surrounded by a human tide that never stopped singing.
What happened at Plaza de Cibeles?
Some 120,000 people waited in Plaza de Cibeles, where the team was introduced one by one on stage. Rodri, as captain, praised the group and singled out Ferran Torres, scorer of the winning goal in the final. "Today he already belongs to Spanish football history," he said, visibly moved. Luis de la Fuente, the manager, stressed the locker-room unity: "The team's strength lies in staying united".
The party ran until 23:30 with a performance by Aitana and her song Superestrella, already the fans' anthem during the tournament. Before the end, the squad paid a moving tribute to María Caamaño, the young fan who passed away days earlier.
La Roja has now strung together five straight wins after the title, with their last result a 1-0 victory over Argentina on July 19, 2026. The next test comes on September 26, when they travel to England to face the Three Lions.
