Spain's World Cup-winning soccer team returned home on Monday, July 20, 2026, to a grand reception in Madrid. The 26-man squad was greeted by Spanish royalty and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez before embarking on an open-top bus parade through central Madrid.

Hundreds of thousands of fans gathered along the route from near Moncloa Palace, the prime minister’s official residence, to Cibeles Square, where a ceremony with the players was held. Fans celebrated Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the World Cup final held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, marking Spain's second World Cup title after their 2010 win in South Africa.

The victory also made Spain the first European nation to hold both the men’s and women’s World Cup titles simultaneously, following the women's team win in 2023.

Among the players, 19-year-old Victor Álvarez expressed his dedication, saying, “I’ve slept three or four hours, but for the team, I’ll do whatever it takes.” Meanwhile, 59-year-old civil servant Gema Rodero shared her celebratory approach: “We preferred not to go to any bar or anything, to experience it at home, focused and very happy, very joyful.”

However, celebrations were marred by tragedy when local authorities reported that a 13-year-old boy in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, died after a fountain he had climbed onto with friends to mark the victory collapsed.

Sources