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Municipal officials and news outlets reported on Monday that a structural collapse of a fountain in western Spain resulted in the death of a teenager and injuries to multiple individuals who were celebrating the nation's World Cup soccer triumph.
"The city hall of Ciudad Rodrigo expresses its sadness and presents its condolences for the death of a 13-year-old boy," the municipality said on a Facebook post.
"What should have been a celebration of Spain's team in the football World Cup turned into tragedy," it said, adding that several others were injured. "A few minutes after 12:30 a.m. local time (10:30 p.m. GMT on July 19), rescue services received calls over a fountain collapsing on numerous people," emergency services said in a post on X, adding that another youth had been injured.
Local media reported that the fountain collapsed under the weight of numerous people who had climbed onto it to celebrate Spain's first World Cup victory since 2010 in the football-mad nation.
A million jubilant Spanish supporters are expected to greet their heroes on Monday in Madrid as the World Cup winners return home after clinching their second star.
Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in New Jersey on Sunday, secured by a Ferran Torres strike in extra-time, has sparked an outpouring of national pride in the football-mad country, whose only other World Cup triumph came in 2010.
Coach Luis de la Fuente and his squad are due to land in Madrid with a delay of more than an hour after the original expected arrival time of 12:50 p.m. local time (10:50 a.m. GMT).
They have the golden trophy in tow, after a dominant performance, exercising "total control" against a "helpless Argentine side", according to Spanish daily Marca, a prominent sports newspaper.
Many younger supporters were not yet born when Andres Iniesta's extra-time goal against the Netherlands secured Spain's first World Cup in South Africa 16 years ago.
On Monday morning, the Castellana, Madrid's main avenue, bore the marks of a boozy evening, the tarmac strewn with trash, beer cans, and shards of glass. Among the last remaining supporters, some slept with grins on their faces on the pavement or on benches, while others were still staggering home as cleaning crews worked from the early hours to prepare the route for tonight's party.
After landing, the players will be received by King Felipe VI at Zarzuela Palace, the official residence of the monarch on the outskirts of Madrid, according to the mayor.
It is not yet known whether the team will be met by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez at the government headquarters, La Moncloa, as he had to make a swift visit to Algeria.
Spain's World Cup winners will enjoy an open-top bus parade, starting at Moncloa and heading to Cibeles Square, the central government's representative in Madrid, Francisco Martin, told Spanish public television.
A ceremony involving the players will then be held at the square, the traditional gathering point for celebrations by the Spanish national team and its supporters.
Around one million people are expected to line the parade route, with additional security and transport measures planned to handle the crowds, Martin explained.
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