“You have won with gallantry; when Spain plays, we all play. You have fought for it, with head and heart, and you have achieved it.” With these words, the King congratulated the players of the Spanish national football team who, this Monday, have begun hours of celebration that continue at Moncloa, where they are received by Pedro Sánchez, and will culminate at the Plaza de Cibeles, after the parade through the streets of Madrid.
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The staff of the Zarzuela received the players of La Roja, who this afternoon wore the navy blue suit and turquoise polo of the street uniform, designed by Loewe, before being received by the King and Queen, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía. Escorts, orderlies, royal guards, administrative staff, officials and senior officials, all those who were on duty at the official residence of the King and Queen at that moment, came out to the entrance of the so-called glass building to welcome them.
In the audience hall, the King and Queen greeted them one by one, led by the coach, Luis de la Fuente, and the team captain, Rodrigo Hernández Rodri. The King, in suit and tie, Queen Letizia, in a red dress, and the princess and the infanta in the white national team jersey, still with only one embroidered star, received them with smiles.
Then, with the players already lined up on the exterior stairs leading to the garden, the royal family posed with them for the family photo and received from Rafael Louzán, president of the Spanish Federation, the red jerseys with each of their names and the two stars of two-time champions embroidered on the crest. The Spanish team arrived at the Zarzuela accompanied by the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports in Spain, Milagros Tolón, and the president of the Higher Sports Council, José Manuel Rodríguez Uribes.
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The King’s words
You come tired but what a good kind of tired, right?
It has been an odyssey. The path has been long, with 48 teams. It has been an epic triumph. You return bruised, but with the joy of bringing the cup home. Armed with patience, without despair, you have been faithful to your very characteristic style and system, you have been united, a team, supportive, generous. You now carry forever those two stars that shine so brightly for Spain; you are a stellar and legendary team. It is no longer something so singular and unique, but it is always extraordinary. Spain is once again, thanks to you, the football world champion.
You have known how to put in your claw, your endurance and your audacity, always backed by your technique, control and mastery of the field, combining head and heart.
Apart from other important titles, not a few, sixteen years later Spain is once again football world champion thanks to you who were barely babies in 2010, when Spain won its first star. Today we are the reigning world champions of 2026 and 2023. Let us not forget it.
When you have won, you have done it for all of Spain, it has been a privilege and a pleasure for the four of us to see you play the final and enjoy the privilege with you of lifting the Cup and welcoming you to Spain. You still have much celebration ahead despite the tiredness, but you are going to enjoy it. You have earned it, congratulations.”
In the garden, in front of a pedestal on which the champions’ cup was posed, the King congratulated the players and addressed them before mingling with the group to continue sharing the joy. The workers of the Zarzuela, who had gathered after forming the honor corridor, applauded the players again. After a few minutes of conversation with the King and Queen and their daughters, the players left the Zarzuela, heading to Moncloa.
