The Spanish football team arrives in Madrid this Thursday to celebrate their victory in the World Cup. The champions' bus will travel through the city centre from Moncloa to Cibeles, with a grand party planned.
The open-top bus with the world champions will start its journey at 19:00 from the Moncloa interchange. The planned route includes streets such as Princesa, Alberto Aguilera, Carranza, Sagasta, Génova, Goya, Serrano, Puerta de Alcalá, Alfonso XII, and Montalbán, until reaching Cibeles square, where a main stage has been set up.
The caravan is expected to arrive at Cibeles around 21:00, although the organisers warn of possible delays due to the massive influx of people. From 18:00, the Cibeles area will host a party with music and shows to entertain the thousands of fans already gathering in the capital.
Institutional visits before the parade
Before the grand public event, the Spanish national team's delegation has a programme of official acts planned. The first destination will be the Palacio de la Zarzuela, where the players will be received by the Royal Household around 12:30. Afterwards, the delegation will move to the Palacio de la Moncloa to continue with the institutional tributes.
The Madrid City Council has confirmed that the mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, will welcome the champions at the Palacio de Cibeles at the end of the parade, where the players are expected to greet the public from the main balcony. The day will conclude with a light and sound show at the Cibeles fountain, which is already being decorated with the colours of the national flag.
Security measures and traffic disruptions
The City Council has implemented a special security and mobility operation to manage the expected influx of fans. More than 60,000 people are expected at Cibeles and up to a million along the entire route. Since midnight, progressive traffic disruptions have been applied in Cibeles square, Paseo de Recoletos, Paseo del Prado, and Calle Alcalá, with impacts extending to Gran Vía, Plaza de España, and surrounding roads.
To minimise inconvenience, the City Council recommends using public transport and has announced reinforcements for lines 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the Metro, although the Banco de España station will remain closed for safety reasons. Several EMT lines will be diverted, and ten extra night buses will be provided to meet demand. Additionally, eight Bicimad stations will be out of service in the Cibeles and Recoletos area.
The underground car parks of Serrano III, Sevilla, Recoletos, Las Cortes, and Plaza del Rey will have restricted access, as will five taxi ranks in the central area. Residents of the affected neighbourhoods should pay attention to the instructions from mobility agents.
Recommendations for fans
The organisers ask attendees to arrive early, bring water and sun protection, and follow the instructions of emergency services at all times. Supply and medical assistance points will be set up along the route, especially in areas of higher concentration. Children and people with reduced mobility should locate themselves in the designated areas, which will be marked.
This Thursday's celebration promises to be a historic day for Madrid, which is once again dressing up to welcome its sporting heroes. With a deployment of over 2,000 National and Municipal Police officers, the capital is preparing for a safe and massive celebration. However, those planning to drive through the centre are better off leaving their cars at home and using public transport: traffic disruptions will be extensive and will last well into the early hours of the morning.
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