Spanish World Cup Champions Honored With Tomato Tradition Gift

WHO:

AOL.com - Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, wore a hat that said “Make Spain Great Again” during the celebrations.

AOL.com - Princess Leonor and Princess Sofía, daughters of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, were present during the team's official victory tour.

Sports Illustrated - Spain midfielders Fabián Ruiz and Gavi

AOL.com - Jesús Navas, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez

WHAT:

AOL.com - The Newark World Cup Fan Village reached maximum capacity with approximately 3,000 attendees during the final match.

AOL.com - The open-top bus parade in Madrid attracted approximately 1.8 million attendees, gathering at the Plaza de Cibeles outside the capital’s city hall.

Sports Illustrated - Ruiz and Gavi were each gifted their weight in locally grown tomatoes.

Sports Illustrated - Ruiz received 185 pounds of tomatoes, while Gavi received 150 pounds.

AOL.com - The players were honored at a reception at the town hall.

WHERE:

AOL.com - The Newark World Cup Fan Village was located in Newark, New Jersey.

Sports Illustrated - Los Palacios y Villafranca, southern Spain

AOL.com - Madrid, Spain

WHEN:

AOL.com - The final match between Spain and Argentina took place on a Sunday.

AOL.com - The ceremony took place on Tuesday, July 21.

Sports Illustrated - The players celebrated Spain's victory after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

WHY:

AOL.com - The Newark Fan Village hosted watch parties for every match leading up to the final, culminating in a free festival featuring family-friendly activities and local food.

Sports Illustrated - The tomato gift is a local tradition that symbolizes the town's agricultural heritage and celebrates athletes returning home after success.

AOL.com - The tradition began in 2010 when Jesús Navas received tomatoes for his role in Spain's World Cup victory.

HOW:

AOL.com - The Newark Fan Village provided viewing areas and activities for fans during the World Cup matches.

AOL.com - The players participated in a reception where they stepped on scales side-by-side, with Ruiz weighing 185 lbs and Gavi weighing 150 lbs, before receiving their respective weights in tomatoes.

Sports Illustrated - Ruiz and Gavi stepped onto scales in front of local residents, family members, and city officials to determine their weight for the tomato gift.

AOL.com - The players participated in an open-top bus parade through Madrid, where approximately 1.8 million Spaniards attended the celebrations.

Ferran Torres, who scored the winning goal in the World Cup final, celebrated by wearing a hat that read “Make Spain Great Again.” The Newark World Cup Fan Village, located in Newark, New Jersey, reached maximum capacity with around 3,000 attendees during the final match between Spain and Argentina. This vibrant venue hosted watch parties for every match leading up to the final, culminating in a free festival filled with family-friendly activities and local food.