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Jubilant celebrations swept across Spain on Monday after the national team defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win the FIFA World Cup for only the second time in the country’s history.
Thousands of ecstatic supporters poured onto the streets of Madrid moments after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal, waving Spanish flags, chanting “¡Campeones, campeones!” (Champions, champions!) and filling the night with the sound of car horns and fireworks.
The heart of the celebrations was Madrid’s iconic Cibeles Square, the traditional gathering place for Spain’s national team and supporters. Fans wearing the team’s famous red shirts streamed along the Paseo de Recoletos towards the square, creating a sea of red and yellow as they celebrated the long-awaited triumph.
Many supporters lit flares while others embraced, sang and danced in scenes of unrestrained joy after Spain ended Argentina’s reign as world champions with a dramatic extra-time victory in New Jersey.
Earlier in the day, tens of thousands of fans had braved temperatures of around 35 degrees Celsius to secure spots in front of giant screens set up at two official fan zones in Madrid, where they watched the tense final unfold.
As Ferran Torres struck the winning goal in the 106th minute, the packed fan zones erupted in celebration, with supporters jumping, waving flags and chanting long after the final whistle.
Television images showed similar scenes across the country, from Barcelona in the northeast to Seville in the south, as fans gathered in city squares, cafes and public viewing areas to celebrate Spain’s return to the summit of world football.
The victory ended a 16-year wait for another World Cup title after Spain’s historic triumph in South Africa in 2010, when Andrés Iniesta’s extra-time goal secured the country’s maiden global crown.
Monday’s success also completed an outstanding tournament for Luis de la Fuente’s side, who remained unbeaten throughout the competition and defeated defending champions Argentina in one of the most closely contested World Cup finals in recent memory.
Spain’s players are expected to receive a heroes’ welcome upon their return home, with another massive celebration anticipated in Madrid similar to the one that greeted the 2010 World Cup-winning squad.
