More than a million Spaniards, many still bleary-eyed after the country's historic World Cup victory against Argentina, are expected to descend on central Madrid on Monday night to welcome the triumphant national team home.
La Roja, who beat Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey on Sunday night, were afforded the first of many heroes' welcomes when they touched down at Madrid's Barajas airport at 2.30pm local time on Monday.
Arrival at Barajas Airport
Spain's captain, Rodri, waved the trophy aloft as he emerged from the plane, his medal from the previous night around his neck. The team posed for a photo before heading into terminal four where hundreds of delighted fans, many in Spain strips and carrying the country's red-and-yellow rojigualda flag, waited for a glimpse of the freshly minted champions.
Official Reception at Zarzuela Palace
The team's first official stop is the Zarzuela palace, northwest of Madrid, where the players and staff will be received by King Felipe and Queen Letizia at about 4.30pm. After that, they are due to head to the Moncloa palace for a meet-and-greet with Spain's socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, at around 6pm.
Victory Parade and Festivities
The victory parade will then kick off in earnest, with the team travelling into town by bus from Moncloa. The focus of the festivities, which will feature music and are expected to draw massive crowds, will be the Plaza de Cibeles just outside Madrid city hall.
Madrid's mayor, José Luis Martínez Almeida, told Radio Nacional de España that the capital was working to give the team the homecoming they deserved. He also hailed the peaceful and joyous scenes that had greeted Spain's victory. "Even though there were thousands and thousands of people on the streets last night, there were practically no incidents in the city," he said. "We're getting everything ready for tonight and the musical events should start at Cibeles from about 6pm, with the parade scheduled to start at 7pm – but all this depends on various factors … The thing we're focusing on is how to celebrate and greet a team that will live forever in our memory."
National Reaction
The victory – Spain's second men's World Cup win after their triumph against the Netherlands in South Africa in 2010 – was seen by hundreds of thousands of Spaniards who followed the match in bars, parks, fairgrounds, bullrings, and on giant screens in the centre of Madrid. The Spanish press have hailed it as "a unique collective experience" made possible by a young team that reflects all that is best about a modern, diverse and determined country.
The win has also been enthusiastically hailed by the country's political class. "WE ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!" Sánchez wrote in a social media post. "What an amazing national squad. Thank you, team." Alberto Núñez Feijóo, the leader of Spain's conservative People's party, wrote: "Well-deserved WORLD CHAMPIONS! Values, hard work, humility, and faith. You have made history. There are no limits for this team … Long live Spain!!!" Santiago Abascal, the leader of the far-right Vox party, also offered his congratulations to the team for carrying "the flag of Spain so far and so high."
Commemorative Stamp
The Spanish postal service, Correos, has announced the creation of a special stamp to commemorate what it called "one of the greatest achievements in the history of Spanish sport." The red-coloured stamp will bear the word CAMPEONES and feature two stars – one for each of Spain's World Cup victories.
