Football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo is poised for a high-profile meeting with former US President Donald Trump at the White House, signalling his first public appearance on American soil in nearly a decade.
A Diplomatic Visit and a Landmark Football Match
The planned encounter on Tuesday 18 November 2025 comes hot on the heels of Portugal securing automatic qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Ronaldo has confirmed this tournament will "definitely" be his final major competition before retiring from international football.
This meeting places the Al-Nassr forward among other prominent football figures, such as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who have been welcomed by Trump. The visit coincides with the US president's own scheduled meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the same day. Given Ronaldo's current professional contract with Saudi club Al-Nassr, the connection between these meetings remains a topic of speculation.
Return to US Soil Amidst Past Allegations
Ronaldo's White House visit is particularly significant as it marks his return to the United States after a prolonged absence. The Portuguese captain has not played a match in the US since August 2014, when he featured as a substitute for Real Madrid in a friendly against Manchester United.
His absence from American tours with clubs like Real Madrid, Juventus, and Manchester United followed sexual assault allegations made by model Kathryn Mayorga, which stem from an incident in Las Vegas in 2009. Ronaldo has consistently and vehemently denied these allegations, and no criminal charges were ever filed. He has not been publicly photographed in the US since the claims were widely reported in 2017.
Building Bridges and Confirming Fixtures
In recent months, Ronaldo has made overtures towards Trump. In July, European Council President Antonio Costa, who is Portuguese, presented Trump with a Portugal shirt signed by Ronaldo, bearing the message: "President Donald J. Trump, playing for peace."
In his interview with Piers Morgan, Ronaldo expressed his admiration, stating, "He is one of the guys who can help to change the world... I wish one day to meet him because he is one of the guys who can make things happen."
This diplomatic foray occurs alongside concrete football plans. Reports from The Athletic indicate that a warm-up friendly between the USA and Portugal is set for March 2026 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The match was finalised after Portugal's emphatic 9-1 victory over Armenia secured their World Cup qualification.
However, Ronaldo's World Cup campaign will face an immediate challenge. He is expected to miss the first two group stage matches after receiving a straight red card for an elbow on Republic of Ireland's Dara O'Shea during a recent 2-1 loss.
