FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will play a starring role in the trophy presentation at the 2026 World Cup final on July 19. In an interview with Fox and Friends, Infantino stated that he and Trump will jointly hand over the trophy to the winning team at the New York New Jersey Stadium, which was previously known as MetLife Stadium.
Close Relationship Between Infantino and Trump
Infantino and Trump have developed a close relationship during the buildup to the tournament. Despite Trump having barely discussed the World Cup since it began on June 11 and not yet attending a match, Infantino emphasized their partnership. "We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course," Infantino said. When asked if they would share the presentation duties, he added, "Of course, we are together all the time."
Echoes of the 2025 Club World Cup
This arrangement mirrors the 2025 Club World Cup final at the same venue, where Trump presented the trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James. On that occasion, Trump remained on the winners' podium after handing over the trophy, causing some confusion among the players. James later recalled, "They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay."
James added that the noise made it difficult to hear Trump's remarks: "To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn’t hear too much. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment." Chelsea teammate Cole Palmer expressed surprise, saying, "I knew he was going to be here, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy. I was a bit confused, yes."
Anticipation for the 2026 Final
The 2026 World Cup final will take place on July 19, with Trump expected to be a central figure in the ceremony. Infantino's comments underscore the ongoing alignment between FIFA and the Trump administration, despite the president's limited public engagement with the tournament so far.
