MADRID: Spain’s national football team celebrated their second World Cup title on Monday as huge crowds packed the streets of Madrid to welcome the champions home.
The players danced and chanted on an open-top bus carrying the words “Kings of the World” and two large stars, marking Spain’s two World Cup triumphs.
According to government estimates, close to two million people gathered in the Spanish capital, many wearing national team shirts and waving red and gold flags after Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
Fans travelled from across Spain and abroad to witness the celebrations. Fran Carratala, 34, came from Catalonia and said supporters were filled with joy after seeing Spain become world champions again.
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Daniel Gaona, a Spanish national living in Estonia, said he travelled to Madrid to experience the moment with fellow fans.
“Everybody was crazy. It was a very good mood. People were very happy,” he said.
The players wore shirts reading “We are champions” as they waved to supporters and threw footballs into the crowd. Forward Borja Iglesias was among those playing music from a DJ set on top of the bus, which also carried the slogan “Stars shine together.”
Before the parade, the squad was received by King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, both of whom had attended the final.
Sanchez thanked the players and staff for their style, effort and victory, and said he was already dreaming of another Spanish triumph in 2030, when Spain will co-host the tournament with Portugal and Morocco.
