US President Donald Trump will bask in the limelight at the World Cup final on Sunday, having already delivered one of the tournament’s most controversial moments.
Trump, along with Fifa boss and close friend Gianni Infantino, is expected to present the trophy to the winner of the match between Spain and Argentina.
The match in New Jersey will be the first World Cup match that Trump has attended, in an unusual move for an 80-year-old leader who normally loves being in the spotlight.
But this is far from his first foray into the tournament.
Less than two weeks ago, Trump infamously called Infantino to ask Fifa to suspend a red card against American forward Folarin Balogun so he could play in a round of 16 match against Belgium.
Despite the ensuing controversy over fairness and influence, Trump has hailed the 2026 tournament as the best ever.
“This has been the most successful sporting event perhaps in the history of the world. It’s been fantastic,” Trump told a Fifa reception with Infantino at Trump Tower in New York on Friday.
Trump said the tournament had also helped further popularize a sport in the United States where the NFL, baseball and basketball still reign supreme.
“It turned out that we were a football country and I think it will remain,” added Trump, who said his son Barron, 20, was a big fan of the game.
First lady Melania Trump, who is Barron’s mother, and Melania’s father Viktor Knavs will both attend with the US president.
Football diplomacy
The final could also be a chance for some much needed diplomacy.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spain’s royal family will all attend – despite Trump recently lashing out at Madrid for failing to help with the Iran war and missing Nato spending.
The leaders of the tournament’s co-hosts, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, will also be there amid ongoing tensions with the mercurial US president.
Trump threatened Canada with tariffs on Friday after smoke from raging wildfires drifted over the northeastern United States and raised concerns about air quality for the World Cup final.
Mexico’s ties with Washington, meanwhile, remain strained over Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown and threats of military action against drug traffickers.
The last time the US, Canadian and Mexican leaders all met was at the World Cup draw in Washington in December.
Trump’s appearance will also be surrounded by heavy security, with a no-fly zone in effect around the stadium as he flies in from his golf club in New Jersey.
Infantino ribbon
While the focus will be on football, Trump will compete for the center.
Trump has linked his political brand to the World Cup since returning to the Oval Office in January 2025, where he has hosted Infantino on several occasions.
He repeatedly boasted how he won the US the right to host the 2028 World Cup and Olympics in Los Angeles during his first term, before losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden in a result he still refuses to accept.
“I wasn’t supposed to be here now, I was president for eight years… they rigged the election and what did I get? I got the World Cup, the Olympics,” Trump said Friday.
Trump also spoke jokingly on Friday about how he wanted the US to host a future World Cup with China, just a day after accusing Beijing of meddling in the 2020 election.
“This time we will leave Mexico and Canada out,” he said.
Trump, who played football as a youth, even criticized England’s tactics in the World Cup semi-final they lost to Argentina and coach Thomas Tuchel’s decision to adopt defensive tactics after taking the lead.
All eyes will also be on what Trump does on the field.
At the Fifa Club World Cup championship in the same New Jersey stadium last year, winners Chelsea were left “a bit confused” after Trump stayed on the podium as they danced after he presented them with the trophy.
Trump then later claimed he had been allowed to keep the trophy itself in the Oval Office – but Fifa said the version on display was actually a replica.
