World Cup 2026: Spanish People Overjoyed on the Day of Their Triumph

Right after the final whistle, thousands of Spanish supporters flooded the central streets of Madrid, covering Cibeles Square in a vibrant sea of red and yellow. Chants of "Campeones, campeones!" (Champions, champions!) mixed with car horns, flare lights, and waving flags, creating the most spirited celebration since the 2010 World Cup victory. The festive mood also spread to Barcelona, Seville, and many other cities across the country.

According to the plan, coach Luis de la Fuente and his team will return to Madrid at noon on July 20 (local time), before embarking on a parade from near the Moncloa Palace to Cibeles Square—the traditional venue for the national team's victory celebrations. The Madrid government predicts that about 1 million people will line the central streets to welcome the new world champions.

More than 2,050 police officers and 400 Civil Guard soldiers will be deployed to ensure security and manage traffic for what is considered one of the biggest celebrations in Spanish football history.

Not only in Madrid, the World Cup fever also exploded in New York (USA)—where the final took place. Thousands of Argentine and Spanish fans gathered at Times Square, Central Park, and many other famous spots in Manhattan to watch the match. The blue-and-white stripes of Argentina and the red-and-yellow of Spain covered the streets, turning the city that never sleeps into a true football festival.

After the match, coach Lionel Scaloni admitted that Spain fully deserved the championship. The Argentine manager stated: "They were the better team, that's the truth. We are sad about the loss but also very proud of what we achieved to reach the final. We know how to win, and today we also know how to accept defeat."

The 48-year-old strategist emphasized that Argentina reaching the World Cup final twice in a row is a highly commendable achievement. He also thanked the players and fans for fighting until the very last minute: "We gave everything on the pitch. That deserves recognition, even though the final result was not what we hoped for."

Meanwhile, defender Marc Cucurella stated that the foundation of Spain's championship was their nearly perfect defensive system. "La Roja" conceded only one goal in eight matches, the best defensive record of any World Cup champion in the tournament's history.

"When you don't concede, your chances of winning increase significantly. This is not just the merit of the defense or the goalkeeper but the effort of the entire team. We attack together and defend together—that's the key to this team," Cucurella shared, before asserting that the whole squad deserves to enjoy a celebration party after nearly 50 days of focused competition.