Trump to attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 final: Will he also hand over the trophy?
The White House has confirmed that United States President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The final will be played between Argentina and Spain. Trump is also widely expected to join FIFA President Gianni Infantino in presenting the winners’ trophy after the match.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump will first travel to New York City on Friday to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan before heading to the final on Sunday.
Although Leavitt did not officially confirm that Trump will hand over the trophy, FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already said last month that both of them would present the trophy together to the winning team.
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Trump’s appearance at the final had been expected for weeks. However, many people wondered if he would attend because he did not go to any of the first 102 matches of the tournament, even though the World Cup has been jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
It is common for leaders of host countries to attend the World Cup final. During the 2022 final in Qatar, Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani joined Infantino in presenting the trophy to Argentina captain Lionel Messi. In 2018, Russian President Vladimir Putin also took part in the medal ceremony after France won the title.
Trump was also present at last year’s Club World Cup final at the same stadium. After presenting the trophy, he remained on the stage with Chelsea captain Reece James during the celebrations, creating a moment that attracted global attention.
Also Read: Argentina vs Spain: FIFA World Cup 2026 final set for July 19
Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino have built a close relationship over the years. They have appeared together at several FIFA-related events, including announcing that the 2026 World Cup draw would be held at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Infantino also introduced a FIFA “Peace Prize” for Trump.
Earlier in the tournament, Trump’s biggest involvement came when he called Infantino and asked him to review United States striker Folarin Balogun’s red card suspension. FIFA later reversed the suspension, a decision that sparked debate before the United States was knocked out by Belgium.
Despite Trump’s absence from the matches, his administration worked behind the scenes to support the organization of the tournament. The White House said the event has been safe, successful and one of the most watched World Cups ever held in the United States.
Leavitt said Trump’s attendance at the final would mark a fitting end to a tournament that highlighted America’s ability to host one of the world’s biggest sporting events.
