Donald Trump To Present FIFA World Cup Trophy After Spain-Argentina Final

Last Updated:July 17, 2026, 01:26 IST

The White House has confirmed Donald Trump will attend the Spain vs Argentina World Cup final and present the trophy, marking his first appearance at the 2026 tournament.

US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, the White House has confirmed.

The visit will mark Trump’s first appearance at the 2026 World Cup, with the US President also expected to present the trophy to the winning team after the final.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the tournament as a major success for the United States.

“His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history," Leavitt told reporters.

“This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage."

Trump Also Attending FIFA Reception

Before the final, Trump is scheduled to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York on Friday.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino had revealed last month that Trump planned to attend the final and take part in the trophy presentation, but Thursday marked the first official confirmation from the White House.

Leavitt said she did not know whether Trump would be supporting Spain or defending champions Argentina, particularly after he criticised Spain during last month’s NATO summit over its stance on military spending.

Trump Already Involved In Tournament Controversy

Although he has not attended a match before the final, Trump has already found himself at the centre of one World Cup controversy.

Earlier this month, he confirmed asking FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun against Bosnia.

FIFA later lifted Balogun’s one-match suspension, although the hosts were still heavily beaten 4-1 by Belgium in the following round.

Trump has frequently claimed credit for the United States securing hosting rights for the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, a decision approved during his first presidential term.

Trophy Presentation Under Spotlight Again

Trump’s role in Sunday’s trophy ceremony comes after an awkward moment during last year’s Club World Cup final at the same stadium.

Following Chelsea’s victory over Paris Saint-Germain, Trump presented the trophy to captain Reece James but remained on stage during the team’s celebrations, leaving several players visibly surprised.

It later emerged that Trump had also kept a replica of the Club World Cup trophy in his office.

Sunday’s final between Spain and Argentina is expected to attract one of the biggest global television audiences in football history, with Trump once again set to feature prominently in the post-match spotlight.

(with AFP inputs)

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Siddarth Sriram

After training in the field of broadcast media, Siddarth, as a sub-editor for News18 Sports, currently dabbles in putting together stories, from across a plethora of sports, onto a digital canvas. His...Read More

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