The World Cup arrived this afternoon at La Moncloa Palace. Pedro Sánchez received the 26 players of the Spanish national team, Luis de la Fuente, and the entire technical staff after the champions' first institutional stop at the Zarzuela Palace.
The reception had a much more intimate format than usual. The Cup awaited on a pedestal in the gardens, 'Superestrella' was playing, and dozens of children of Presidency workers and other public employees were able to greet the footballers. The arrival of the expedition unleashed applause and the first chants before the photograph with the president.
Sánchez dedicated his main words to three elements of the World Cup. "Thanks for the game, for the effort, and for the victory," he stated after acknowledging that even those less familiar with football enjoyed the national team's way of competing.
The president then recalled Luis Aragonés' famous phrase about finals and looked ahead to the next World Cup. "It's two out of two. Why not dream in 2030 that there are no two without three?" he posed to the players.
The next World Cup will have Spain, Portugal, and Morocco as host countries. Sánchez took advantage of this condition to imagine a third star in four years, when a good part of the current generation will still be in their sporting prime.
An event open to fans in the Moncloa gardens
The reception lasted about half an hour and became a small public tribute to the champions. Ibai Llanos and an RTVE journalist hosted the event, interviewing Luis de la Fuente, Rodri, and Ferran Torres before the invited fans.
The presence of the children of Moncloa workers occupied a prominent place in Sánchez's words. The president thanked the Federation for agreeing to share the title with those who work daily in the complex and with their families. "This is the home of all Spaniards," he pointed out. Beside him were the president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, Rafael Louzán, the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón, and the heads of the expedition.
The players arrived dressed in the dark suit and blue polo shirt used during official receptions. Rodri once again led the group alongside the Cup, while the last members of the squad finished joining amidst greetings, photographs, and jokes.
The atmosphere soon moved away from the rigidity of an institutional reception. The young people in front of the stage called out to the players, Ferran Torres answered questions with laughter, and the ceremony ended with the entire audience singing 'We Are the Champions'.
Luis de la Fuente proclaims that he manages the best team in the world
Luis de la Fuente thanked the invitation and defined the month and a half of competition as an experience marked by emotion and the pride of representing the country. The coach once again placed the unity of the locker room among the keys to the title.
"Everything is simpler when you have a relationship with wonderful, exemplary footballers who make things much easier for you," he explained when talking about the jokes, coexistence, and atmosphere that accompanied the squad during the World Cup.
Before the final, De la Fuente had warned that Spain was facing one of the best teams in the championship, while Argentina would have the best team in front of them. This Monday, he maintained that statement without nuances.
"It is the best team in the world, in capital letters," he assured. The coach highlighted the confidence of a group that faced each match with the feeling that they could find a solution even in the most complicated moments.
Rafael Louzán thanked the fans for the support received from Spain and claimed the feeling of unity created around the National Team. The president of the Federation attributed the second star to the players and the coaching staff before asking for a final ovation for them.
Rodri places the World Cup above all his titles
Ibai Llanos introduced Rodri, recalling a career that already includes the European Championship, the Nations League, the Champions League, several Premier League titles, and the Ballon d'Or. To that list have now been added the World Cup and the award for the best player of the tournament. Asked about the place this victory holds, the captain answered without hesitation. "Winning with your country is the most beautiful thing there is, especially a World Cup," he stated.
Rodri has explained that his generation grew up watching Iker Casillas, Andrés Iniesta and the rest of the South Africa champions lift the first Cup in 2010. Being able to repeat that image sixteen years later represents, according to the midfielder, the greatest thing a footballer can achieve.
The Manchester City player has also chosen the final as the most difficult match of the championship. Spain managed to control Argentina for many minutes, but the inherent tension of the match and the equality until extra time raised the demand above the rest of the tournament.
"I think we have had a very complete World Cup and we have covered almost all facets of the game," he assessed. The National Team closed the championship undefeated and after overcoming an especially demanding elimination round against France before reaching the final.
Ferran Torres continues "flying" after the goal
The most celebrated moment of the event came with Ferran Torres. The forward was received with an ovation as he approached the presenters, still the main protagonist of the goal that gave Spain its second World Cup.
"Flying, literally, because we have returned from New York," he replied when Ibai asked him how his last hours had been. He then acknowledged the excitement he felt seeing the children present in Moncloa and the fans who were already filling the streets of Madrid. Ferran scored in the 106th minute after a lay-off from Nico Williams inside the area. His shot beat the Argentine goalkeeper and ended up being enough to decide a final that had remained goalless during regular time.
"You always have to keep believing because in the end everything comes with work", he pointed out. Then he looked towards the parade and the possibility of sharing the victory with thousands of people in the center of the capital.
The forward had described the goal in New Jersey as "the goal of 47 million Spaniards". This Monday he was able to verify the dimension of those words during the receptions in Zarzuela and Moncloa, before getting on the open-top bus.
A parade through the center to the big party in Cibeles
The departure from Moncloa gave way to the most crowded part of the day. The National Team travels through Madrid on an open-top bus to show the Cup and the two stars to the fans who have been occupying the streets of the center for hours.
The itinerary begins in Moncloa and continues along Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, and Sagasta. From there, the bus passes through Génova in the opposite direction and then proceeds along Jorge Juan, Goya, and Serrano.
The expedition will arrive at Plaza de la Independencia, cross the Puerta de Alcalá, and go down Alfonso XII to Montalbán street. The route will end next to the Palacio de Cibeles, where the main stage for the celebration has been set up.
Thousands of people have been gathering since mid-afternoon along the route. The Municipal Police have established traffic cuts, and authorities have recommended using public transport given the large expected influx in the vicinity of Cibeles and Paseo del Prado.
The party began before the arrival of the players with sets by Álex Martini, DJ Pawly, and other artists. Also part of the lineup are Arde Bogotá, Viva Suecia, Ana Mena, Lola Índigo, Aitana, Barce, Tony Grox, and LUCYCALYS.
'Superestrella' once again accompanies the champions
Aitana's music has accompanied the National Team for much of the World Cup. 'Superestrella' has played in videos, locker rooms, concentrations, and celebrations, becoming one of the songs associated with the second Spanish star.
The song has already welcomed the footballers in the Moncloa gardens and will once again have a prominent place on the Cibeles stage. Aitana, one of the artists who has most publicly followed the championship, also participated in the 2024 Euro Cup celebration.
'RTVE' announced during preparations that Aitana and Lola Índigo could share the stage after having rehearsed together, an unusual image in recent years after the estrangement between the two former 'Operación Triunfo' colleagues. The possible joint performance adds to one of the most extensive lineups organized for a National Team celebration. Arde Bogotá will also bring back 'Los perros', the song that accompanied the team during the Euro Cup, while Ana Mena and the rest of the artists will keep the party going until the players arrive.
The bus has already left Moncloa with the Cup placed on top. The next reception will be in the streets of Madrid, full of red shirts, flags, and fans waiting to see the champions before the second star ends the night in Cibeles.
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