The White House has confirmed that President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 World Cup final on Sunday and will present the trophy to the winning team. The match between France and Argentina will take place at New Jersey's MetLife Stadium.
White House Confirms Attendance
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated on Thursday: “We look forward to the final match on Sunday, and I know the president looks forward to attending. This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also confirmed plans for Trump to hand over the World Cup trophy. “That’s always been the plan,” Infantino said. “That’s how it’s always been done in the past – the president of the country where the final is held presents the trophy together with the FIFA president.”
Trump's Previous Trophy Presentation
Trump previously presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea last summer. During that ceremony, he refused to leave the stage after handing over the trophy, leading to awkward exchanges with Chelsea players Reece James and Cole Palmer. He was loudly booed by the crowd.
Trump's Involvement in the Tournament
Despite being a known sports fan, Trump largely avoided attending matches during the World Cup. He did not attend any of the United States' five matches as they were eliminated in the round of 16. However, he intervened before the tournament, threatening to strip host stadiums in Democrat-run cities of their matches. He also made calls to FIFA before USMNT striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban was suspended before the round of 16. Infantino faced calls to resign after that incident.
Notable Absences
While Trump will be present, Argentina president Javier Milei will not attend the final. Other heads of state and dignitaries are expected to be at the match, along with notable figures from the sporting world.
