Spain Receive Hero's Welcome After 2026 FIFA World Cup Triumph

Spain received a major public celebration after its 2026 FIFA World Cup win, with hundreds of thousands of supporters gathering in Madrid on Monday as festivities continued. The squad of Luis de la Fuente returned to the Spanish capital early in the afternoon before meeting King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at the Zarzuela Palace. Later, the team traveled by open-top bus through packed streets to Plaza de Cibeles, where fans had already assembled since morning. The background to the celebrations included Ferran Torres’s extra-time goal versus Argentina, a result that was confirmed just before midnight local time in New Jersey. Leaders from the tournament’s three co-host nations also congratulated Spain, including U.S. President Donald Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. After the celebrations, local authorities confirmed a tragedy in Salamanca involving the collapse of a fountain during festivities, killing a 13-year-old boy.