Dancing and chanting on an open-top bus that read ‘Kings of the World’ and showed two large stars, Spain’s ​national football team celebrated the country’s second World Cup win on ‌Monday along Madrid’s streets packed with exhilarated fans.

Close to two million people, many dressed in the country’s jerseys and waving red and gold flags, gathered in the Spanish capital to see ​the players and celebrate Spain’s 1-0 win over Argentina on Sunday’s final ​in New Jersey, according to government estimates.

“We’re full of enthusiasm for (fulfilling) ⁠the dream of becoming world champions,” said Fran Carratala, 34, who had travelled ​from the northeastern region of Catalonia to witness the players’ parade in Madrid.

Spanish ​national Daniel Gaona, 44, travelled from Estonia, where he lives, to watch Sunday’s final in Madrid.

“Everybody was crazy. It was a very good mood. People were very happy. There were no ​problems, just a lot of happiness,” he said as he prepared to ​see the players’ parade. “It’s something you have to come here to live it here”.

The Spanish players, ‌wearing ⁠t-shirts that read “We are champions” except a few who were topless, constantly waved at the crowds and threw some footballs at them.

Spain’s World Cup triumph sparks scenes of jubilation as thousands of fans pack Madrid’s iconic Cibeles Square during the national team’s victory parade on July 20, 2026, a day after La Roja defeated Argentina 1-0 in the FIFA World Cup final. Photo: Nacho Doce/Reuters.

Some players, like forward Borja Iglesias, played music on a DJ set on top of the bus that ​had a banner on ​one side and ⁠back that read: “Stars shine together”.

Before the parade, the players were greeted by Spanish King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro ​Sanchez. Both had attended Sunday’s final.

“I would like to give ​immense thanks ⁠to the staff and the players for your playing (style), effort and victory,” Sanchez told the players.

He added that he was dreaming about the possibility that Spain could ⁠win its ​third male World Cup in the next tournament ​in 2030 which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

-Reuters

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South American football’s governing body CONMEBOL is pushing for the ​2030 World Cup to be expanded ‌to a record 64 teams, just a day after the conclusion of the ​first 48-team tournament in North ​America.

CONMEBOL President Alejandro Dominguez campaigned for ⁠the further expanded format on ​social media on Monday, urging FIFA to ​expand the centenary edition of the tournament.

“The next one is at home! In 2030, ​the World Cup is coming ​to Uruguay, Argentina and Paraguay,” Dominguez wrote. “It will ‌be ⁠a great opportunity for football, to celebrate the World Cup’s centenary with a 64-team tournament.”

FIFA was contacted ​for comment ​on the ⁠proposed expansion.

Under the existing approved plan, Spain, Portugal, ​and Morocco will serve as ​primary ⁠co-hosts, while Uruguay, Argentina, and Paraguay will host opening centenary matches to ⁠mark ​100 years since the ​inaugural 1930 tournament in Uruguay

-Reuters

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World Cup 2026 is the largest in history — 48 teams, 1,248 players and 104 matches across three host nations. But a Reuters analysis shows that squads are drawn from a narrow set of employers — the same European leagues that dominate the club game.

The Premier League (England), the Bundesliga (Germany), LaLiga (Spain), Serie A (Italy) and Ligue 1 (France) — collectively the “Big Five” — supply 464 of 1,248 players (37%) across all 48 squads, more than a third of all players at the tournament.

Note: Each player is counted by the club he was registered with when squads were confirmed. 

Source: Transfermarkt

Although the tournament included 16 more nations than before, the players became more European-based as the tournament progressed.

Players from the Big Five leagues made up 50% in the Round of 32. Their share rose at almost every stage: 56% in the Round of 16, 79% in the quarterfinals and 91% in the semifinals. It eased to 88% in the final between Spain and Argentina, after Argentina knocked out England in the semifinals.

The 48 squads draw on leagues from 68 different countries, but a few host the bulk of the talent. English leagues lead by a wide margin, home to 206 players, most of them in the Premier League. German leagues account for 109, French and Spanish leagues 86 each, and Italian leagues 71.

None of the four Big Five nations to qualify for this year’s World Cup (senza Italia!) fielded the most homegrown team. Qatar and Saudi Arabia are the most home-based: 25 of their 26 players play at domestic clubs, though neither progressed out of the group stage.

Behind them, England (21 of 26, all in the Premier League), Germany (19 in the Bundesliga) and South Africa (19) complete the five most homegrown squads.

Eight squads have the opposite profile, with every player based abroad. They include two of the tournament’s debutants, Cape Verde and Curaçao, whose entire squads are built in foreign leagues, alongside Canada, DR Congo, Ivory Coast, New Zealand, Senegal and Uruguay.

About 713 of the 1,248 players play for clubs on their own continent. The rest moved, overwhelmingly toward Europe. The largest cross-continent group is 189 players from African (CAF) national teams who play club football in European (UEFA) leagues. More of this tournament’s players play club football in Europe than anywhere else.

Note: Confederations are UEFA (Europe), CONMEBOL (South America), CONCACAF (North and Central America and the Caribbean), CAF (Africa), AFC (Asia and Australia) and OFC (Oceania).

Source: Transfermarkt; FIFA

The 48-team World Cup was the most global in history: nearly a quarter of FIFA’s 211 member associations reached the North American tournament. But by the semifinals, 95 of the 104 players still standing earned their club wages in one of the Big Five.

-Reuters

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