Spain Advances to World Cup Final, Madrid Fans Celebrate Late into the Night

Spain advanced to the World Cup final tonight after defeating tournament favorite France 2-0 in the semifinal, marking their first final appearance in 16 years. The capital city of Madrid erupted in celebration, with riverside bands performing and fans gathering to dance in euphoria, their festivities continuing with loud music and cheers deep into the night.

Known as 'La Roja' (The Red Team), Spain faced France—a team boasting formidable attacking power and strong title credentials—tonight in the semifinal. Relying on solid ball control, disciplined defense, and precise teamwork, Spain secured a 2-0 victory, earning their long-awaited ticket to the World Cup final.

Ahead of the match, only one large public viewing screen had been set up in central Madrid during the quarterfinals, leaving many fans unable to join due to limited space and sparking public complaints. To ensure broader fan participation and national team support, the city government installed two additional giant screens along the banks of the Manzanares River in Madrid's riverside park.

Despite crowd control measures for safety, many fans unable to enter the viewing zones watched from across the river. Yet, distance did little to dampen the enthusiasm of Spanish supporters. Both riverbanks buzzed with energy, as fans painted national flags on each other's faces and even beer vendors radiated excitement.

When forward Mikel Oyarzabal scored from a penalty kick in the first half, fans felt reassured, and their excitement grew steadily as the match progressed. Continuous applause, chants, songs, and dancing filled the air throughout the game.

At the final whistle confirming their advancement to the final, the crowd erupted in jubilation. Fans embraced partners and friends, some shedding tears of joy, others shouting 'Viva España!' at the top of their lungs.

Suddenly, a band appeared from somewhere along the riverside park, playing drums and brass instruments. Men, women, young and old alike gathered around, dancing wildly to the upbeat rhythms and turning the area into an impromptu celebration party that lasted well past midnight.

After the match, a group of young fans told Central News Agency they were certain Spain would sew a second star onto their jersey in Sunday's championship match. 'No matter who we face—England, Argentina, or even both combined—it doesn't matter. We will win right now,' they declared confidently.

Many fans were 'too excited to speak,' with some declining interviews, saying they were 'too happy to talk.'

Meanwhile, a group of female fans, after waving flags and dancing, told Central News Agency they were immensely proud of their national team. 'We'll be even prouder if we win the final, but even if we lose, we'll still be proud of how far they've come.'

When asked how they'd celebrate tonight, they shouted back: 'We're Spaniards—of course, we're going out for a drink!'

Leaving the riverside park, cars driving through Madrid's streets rolled down their windows, waved flags, and honked horns, joining pedestrians in celebrating Spain's advancement to the final—just one win away from their second World Cup title in history.

This marks Spain's return to the final since their first appearance and championship victory at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. They will now face the winner of the Argentina vs. England semifinal on the 19th local time. Regardless of their opponent, Spanish fans remain unwavering in their belief that their team will lift the World Cup trophy once again, 16 years after their last triumph.