Spain's World Cup homecoming: the party begins

The homecoming

After the final whistle, the trophy lift, and whatever chaos followed in the dressing room, Spain's players are back — and the country is ready to receive them properly. A parade has been planned to let supporters get their moment with the squad, the kind of open-top, flag-waving, crowd-surging occasion that only a World Cup win can justify.

A meeting with Pedro Sánchez and a royal reception complete the official programme. King Felipe VI welcoming home world champions is the sort of image that ends up on the front page of every newspaper in the country — and probably a few outside it.

Confirmed by ESPN FC and BBC Sport.

What this generation has done

Spain have already shown this group is something special. The core of this squad came through a genuine renewal in Spanish football — and across this tournament they backed it up with results. They didn't just win; they did it without conceding more than once in any single match, with Lamine Yamal pulling strings in attack and a midfield that simply refused to let opponents settle.

For the players, the coaching staff, and the millions of fans who followed every match across the tournament, this is the payoff. The parade route will be loud.

Pedro Sánchez, for once, will not be the most popular person in the room.