Donald Trump is set to attend the GWC final between Spain and Argentina at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday, the White House has confirmed. The US president has largely avoided the tournament so far, but the championship match demands his presence, potentially setting up a re-run of last year's Copa Gianni final at the same venue.
Trump's Controversial Trophy Presentation History
During the 2024 Copa Gianni final, Trump joined Fifa president Gianni Infantino to hand the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain. While Infantino attempted to vacate the stage before the trophy lift, Trump remained firmly in place, celebrating between goalkeeper Robert Sánchez and a clearly bemused Cole Palmer. "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," Palmer said. "I was a bit confused."
Trump's presence was met with boos from the crowd, similar to the reception he received at Madison Square Garden in June when he watched the New York Knicks' sole loss during the NBA finals. "It was, I think, mostly cheers," Trump claimed. "It was loud, and it was very enthusiastic." Any further hostility on Sunday is expected to be similarly dismissed.
Messi and Yamal Reunion Steals Spotlight
Amid the political sideshow, the final offers a poignant moment: Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal are set to meet again, 19 years after their first photoshoot. In 2007, a 20-year-old Messi cradled a baby Yamal for a Unicef charity calendar. Yamal has since become Messi's spiritual successor at Barcelona, inheriting the No. 10 shirt. Photographers will likely focus on their embrace at the close of the match, with hopes that no one—including Trump—photobombs the moment.
Meanwhile, Argentina's populist president Javier Milei will not attend the final. He admitted to watching all games from home in Olivos, wearing an oil company-branded jacket for superstition. "The day of the Switzerland game, it made me really hot. I took it off, and they scored a goal against us. I put it back on and never took it off again," Milei said.
Other GWC News and Letters
The daily GWC news liveblog continues, with the latest edition available. Day two of the Open is also ongoing. In reader letters, suggestions for naming the 2030 World Cup include 'The Carbon Footprint WC' or 'El Carbonaro' from Krishna Moorthy, and 'Swiss Model World Cup' from George Paterson. Alan Burgess simply suggests 'the World Cup'. JJ Zucal notes the return of Major League Soccer after a brief pause, with the league declaring: 'Thanks, World; We'll Take It From Here.'
