On 19/7 at MetLife Stadium, Spain dominated Argentina, securing a one-nil victory with Ferran Torres' goal in the 106th minute. This win marked Spain's second world title, following their first in 2010, and saw them set five World Cup records.

European representatives also swept the individual awards. Rodri earned the World Cup Golden Ball for his consistent midfield performances across all eight matches. Goalkeeper Unai Simon received the Golden Glove, having kept seven clean sheets and conceding only one goal throughout the tournament, achieving a 90% save rate. Nineteen-year-old center-back Pau Cubarsi was named the best young player, becoming a key defender for the champions.

In the early afternoon of 20/7, the Spanish team landed at Adolfo Suarez Madrid–Barajas Airport, northeast of central Madrid, beginning their emotional celebration journey.

The team's first stop was Zarzuela Palace. The golden trophy, lifted by captain Rodri at MetLife Stadium, was carried into the palace to a round of applause.

Rodri and Coach Luis de la Fuente led the delegation. The players, dressed in formal attire for the official reception, carried the pride of a team that had become world champions for the second time.

King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and their two daughters, Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia, personally welcomed the players and coaching staff. In an emotional moment on the palace steps, the entire team chanted, "Champions, champions".

The players posed for photographs with the golden trophy and four jerseys dedicated to the Royal Family before proceeding to the official ceremony.

Addressing the team, King Felipe VI congratulated them, calling their World Cup journey "an epic victory".

"Congratulations to all of you. This has been a long journey, a true adventure. You return with aches and fatigue, having faced some criticism, but all of that pales in comparison to the joy of bringing this trophy home", he said.

The King praised Spain's exceptional resilience throughout the tournament, highlighting their blend of skill, patience, and fighting spirit. "You have shown strength, perseverance, and audacity, always built on technical foundations, combining reason and heart. You maintained composure and remained loyal to your distinctive football style", Felipe VI emphasized.

He also lauded the team's unity under Coach Luis de la Fuente: "You have become a unified force, always supporting each other, generous, and victorious with pride. The two stars on your chests will forever shine for Spain, and you have become a legendary team in the history of our nation's football and sports".

According to Felipe VI, this championship was even more significant, coming sixteen years after Spain's first World Cup triumph. The King reiterated the message of solidarity between the team and the Spanish people: "When the team plays, we all play. And when you win, that victory belongs to all of Spain". He also encouraged the players to fully enjoy this historic day, from the hugs, smiles, songs, to the applause of the fans.

Following the reception at Zarzuela, the Spanish team traveled to Moncloa Palace for a welcome from Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

Unlike the formal royal ceremony, the reception at the Prime Minister's residence had a more intimate atmosphere. Nico Williams placed the golden trophy on a podium in the Moncloa garden, the song Superestrella played, and dozens of children of staff from the Prime Minister's office and public agencies had the opportunity to meet the champions directly.

The arrival of Luis de la Fuente's squad was met with applause and cheers before the team took photos with Prime Minister Sanchez.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sanchez thanked the team for three things: "their play, their effort, and their victory". The Prime Minister noted that Spain's World Cup performance captivated even those who do not regularly follow football.

He recalled the famous quote by the late Coach Luis Aragones about finals and looked ahead to the 2030 World Cup, which Spain will co-host with Portugal and Morocco. "We have two championships. Why not dream of a third in 2030?", Sanchez asked the team. He expressed hope that the current generation of players could continue to make history in the next four years, with many key players still in their prime.

The ceremony at Moncloa lasted about half an hour, becoming a small interaction with fans. Content creator Ibai Llanos and an RTVE MC hosted the event, interviewing Coach Luis de la Fuente, Rodri, and Ferran Torres.

Prime Minister Sanchez specifically thanked the Spanish Football Federation for sharing the championship moment with families working at Moncloa. "This is the home of all Spanish people", he said.

After the reception at Moncloa, the Spanish national team embarked on the day's most anticipated event: an open-top bus parade through central Madrid to connect with fans.

According to estimates by the Spanish Government Delegation, over two million people flooded the capital's streets to welcome Coach Luis de la Fuente's team. Madrid became the focal point of a historic celebration, with the general sentiment that the entire country had turned to the capital to embrace its world champions.

The bus departed from Moncloa, slowly moving through a sea of people stretching to Cibeles Square. Both sides of the road were packed, covered in red and yellow across the avenues. Spanish flags, scarves, jerseys, confetti, and thousands of phones created an unprecedented festive scene.

The players continuously held up the golden trophy, waving to fans and receiving gifts thrown from the roadside. Most of those present were children and teenagers—a generation growing up with the dream of witnessing Spain once again become world champions after the 2010 triumph.

Even Rodri, known for his composure, immersed himself in the festive atmosphere. The Manchester City midfielder, recipient of the World Cup's best player award, sat at the front of the bus with Gavi, their legs hanging out, continuously singing and cheering on the fans.

Images of the trophy being raised on the bus roof appeared constantly throughout the journey. Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal in the final, received one of the loudest ovations.

Marcos Llorente also became a focal point, taking off his shirt and savoring every moment of the parade. The Atletico Madrid midfielder caught attention with his exuberant celebration style, carrying sunglasses and a champagne bottle to toast the victory with his teammates.

Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams danced continuously, recreating the moves that became a familiar sight for the Spanish team throughout the tournament. Music played non-stop on the bus. Borja Iglesias took on the role of the team's DJ, while the microphone was passed between players.

The motorcade concluded its journey at Cibeles Square, a familiar venue for sports celebrations in Madrid. The square quickly transformed into an open-air stadium with tens of thousands of fans awaiting. Madrid Mayor Jose Luis Martinez-Almeida welcomed the team on stage and kissed the golden trophy that the players had cherished all day. Each player was introduced to the crowd amidst cheers, stepping onto the stage with their favorite song.

David Raya and Marc Pubill kicked off with the reggaeton beat of Ñengo Flow. Marcos Llorente appeared to Julio Iglesias' music. Fabian Ruiz, Gavi, Pedro Porro, Joan Garcia, and many other players continued to bring joy as they immersed themselves in the music. Alejandro Baena, who carried the trophy onto the stage, also received a birthday serenade from thousands of fans, celebrating his 25th birthday. Martin Zubimendi appeared to Shakira's Waka Waka, a song associated with Spain's 2010 World Cup victory. Lamine Yamal received a special welcome from Madrid fans. The young player took to the stage to Don Miguelo's ¿Y Que Fue? Pau Cubarsi appeared with Raphael's Mi gran noche, a fitting moment for his successful World Cup where he was voted the best young player of the tournament. "Cu, cu, Cucurella... eating paella. Haaland is scared, Cucurella is coming", defender Marc Cucurella sang a playful chant dedicated to himself. However, the most explosive welcome was reserved for Rodri. Teammates lined up to form a pathway to greet their captain before gathering around the Manchester City midfielder. Rodri raised the golden trophy and expressed gratitude to the fans. In his speech at Cibeles, Rodri paid special tribute to Ferran Torres, who scored the decisive goal in the final against Argentina. The forward received a huge ovation but did not speak to the crowd. He once described his goal in New Jersey as "the goal of 47 million Spanish people", and today he truly felt the meaning of those words.

Coach Luis de la Fuente also received a special tribute. As his name echoed at Cibeles, all the players ran to surround him, tossing the 65-year-old coach into the air in a celebration that showcased the team's unity.

Afterwards, De la Fuente thanked the fans. "Thank you, Spain, for supporting us, for being here. We are fortunate to have 26 incredible individuals, who are both the best players in the world and wonderful people. It is a great honor to lead them and share this moment with the coaching staff", he said.

De la Fuente was also cheered by his players after taking the microphone to sing a Julio Iglesias song, creating a joyful moment on the Cibeles stage.

The program at Cibeles continued with performances by artists such as Arde Bogota, Viva Suecia, Ana Mena, and Lola Indigo.

Borja Iglesias invited the entire logistics, medical, and support staff to the stage. "They are the most important people of the World Cup. They take care of us every day so the team can play in the best conditions", he stated.

The most anticipated moment was the appearance of Aitana. The singer performed Superestrella, the song that accompanied the Spanish team throughout their World Cup journey. The song played after every team victory, gradually becoming the "unofficial anthem" of the champions.

As the melody resonated at Cibeles, the players embraced and sang along with tens of thousands of fans. Aitana then took photos with the golden trophy and the entire team, recreating an image from the Euro 2024 championship celebration.

The festival concluded with music, fireworks, and prolonged cheers at Cibeles.

Sixteen years after their first World Cup victory, Spain once again painted the streets of Madrid red. Two million voices sang in unison, the golden trophy was raised amidst a sea of people, and a new generation of players officially etched their names into the history of Spanish football.

Hong Duy

Photos: Reuters, AP, SEFutbol, EFE