Donald Trump caused a stir during the 2026 World Cup trophy presentation, refusing to vacate the podium after handing the trophy to Spain. The incident overshadowed Spain's victory over Argentina in the final.
Spain defeated the defending champions in extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the opening goal after Argentina's Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the 93rd minute. Following the match, Spanish players collected their medals individually before Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the trophy.
Trump Hijacks the Ceremony
As Trump shook hands with players and punched the air in celebration, he declined to step down from the stage. Infantino attempted to usher a seemingly disoriented Trump away from the squad, but Trump continued to linger to the right of the team, overshadowing their moment of glory.
The incident mirrored a similar breach of protocol during the 2025 Club World Cup, when Trump remained alongside the Chelsea squad as they lifted the trophy at MetLife Stadium. Footage from that event showed officials desperately trying to coax Trump away, with calls reportedly coming from Infantino.
Infantino's Attempts to Remove Trump
In the 2026 final, Infantino once again found himself tasked with steering Trump away from the victorious players. He dashed across in front of the squad, guiding the president to the left to make his exit, yet Trump held his position as Spain lifted the trophy.
Trump was met with loud jeers from the crowd as he made his way onto the pitch for the presentation, marking the second time he was booed during the final. Earlier, cameras had shown him watching the match alongside Infantino in a private suite, and when he waved to the crowd, the stadium erupted with boos and whistles.
Additional Controversy
Trump courted further controversy when footage showed him handling the World Cup trophy in the suite during the first half of the match. The incident added to the criticism surrounding his conduct during the tournament.
