MADRID (AP) 鈥� Spain’s returned home on Monday and an estimated crowd of almost 2 million was on hand to greet the squad through the streets of Madrid.
The 26 players and their coaching staff met with the country’s royals, and then with , after arriving in the Spanish capital a day after beating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey.
鈥淭hank you to the coaches and players for the style of play, the effort and the victory,鈥� S谩nchez said. 鈥淲e have truly enjoyed watching you play.鈥�
The squad then boarded an open-top bus for a raucous parade through central Madrid. 鈥淪tars shine together鈥� was written on the bus, which also carried photos of the footballers.
Players 鈥� carrying the World Cup trophy and wearing shirts with the words Somos Campeones (We Are Champions) 鈥� danced and interacted with the fans along the route.
鈥淚t’s been an emotional and proud experience to represent a wonderful country with such passionate and devoted fans,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said before the parade started. 鈥淲e are filled with joy.鈥�
The squad traveled down Madrid’s historic avenues from near Moncloa Palace, the prime minister鈥檚 official residence, to Cibeles Square, where authorities told local media that some 120,000 people were on hand for a ceremony.
Players were introduced one by one before entering the stage set up at the square. Each picked the song to be played when they came in. 脕lex Baena, celebrating his 25th birthday, entered with the World Cup trophy.
Coach De la Fuente was thrusted into the air by his players after being introduced. The coach was among those who sang along to the song being played for them.
Striker Borja Iglesias featured as a D.J. at one point, with his teammates dancing on the stage.
Singers Aitana, Ana Mena and Lola 脥ndigo were among those entertaining the crowd and the players.
The ceremony ended with the whole Spain squad lifting the trophy again, just like at the awards ceremony on Sunday, but now in front of the local crowd.
Groups of fans had begun securing their spots near Cibeles late Monday morning ahead of the team鈥檚 arrival, bringing umbrellas to protect against the sun and temperatures of up to 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit).
The square is where previous Spain teams and their supporters have typically gathered to celebrate. It’s also the traditional celebration spot for Real Madrid when it wins titles.
Officials estimated a total of 1.8 million people welcomed the team in Madrid.
Spain walked off with the trophy Sunday after Ferran Torres scored the winner in extra time to secure its second World Cup title 鈥� and first since 2010 in South Africa.
The team was congratulated by the leaders of the three countries that co-hosted the tournament 鈥� U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
After the final whistle, Madrid , with thousands of supporters pouring into the streets from bars and restaurants, many draped in Spanish flags or wearing the team’s colors.
Crowds packed the capital’s Puerta de Sol and other major squares 鈥� singing, dancing and setting off flares while car horns blared.
Many celebrated Sunday鈥檚 victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning.
鈥淚鈥檓 very happy. I鈥檝e slept three or four hours, but for the team, I鈥檒l do whatever it takes,鈥� 19-year-old Victor 脕lvarez said.
The men’s victory, combined with the Women鈥檚 World Cup won by , makes the European nation the first to hold both titles simultaneously.
鈥淗onestly, it was very exciting. We preferred not to go to any bar or anything, to experience it at home, focused and very happy, very joyful,鈥� 59-year-old civil servant Gema Rodero said.
Celebrations were dampened, however, after local authorities reported that a 13-year-old in Salamanca, northwest of Madrid, had died after a fountain he had climbed onto with friends to mark the victory had collapsed.
For many young supporters, the triumph is their first time witnessing the men’s team lift the trophy 鈥� and the national delirium that has followed.
Spain now is markedly different from 2010, when the Iberian nation was beset by a debt crisis, 20% unemployment and nationalist regions fighting to win more autonomy.
The economy is expanding, the unemployment rate has halved and the country is forecast to again be among the Eurozone鈥檚 fastest-growing major economies. Nationalist and separatist tensions have considerably cooled.
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