Trump to Attend 2026 World Cup Final and Present Trophy

United States President Donald Trump will be at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final between Spain and Argentina on Sunday. The White House confirmed that he will make his first appearance at the tournament for the final match at the New Jersey Stadium.

This announcement ends weeks of talks about whether the US leader would show up for the final. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had mentioned in June that Mr Trump would attend and present the World Cup trophy to the winners.

Even though Infantino's comments were not officially confirmed earlier, the White House announced on Thursday that the president will indeed attend football's biggest match.

Speaking during a media briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump’s presence would mark a fitting end to what she called a historic tournament.

“His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history,” Ms Leavitt said.

“This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”

Before the final on Sunday, Mr Trump is also expected to go to a reception hosted by FIFA at Trump Tower in New York on Friday. This shows his administration's close involvement with the tournament.

Even though the president's attendance is confirmed, Leavitt could not say if Trump would support Spain or Argentina in the final.

This question comes after Mr Trump criticized Spain during last week’s NATO summit for not supporting military action against Iran. This adds another layer of interest before the championship match.

While the president has not been at any World Cup matches during the tournament, he has stayed connected to events both on and off the field.

Earlier this month, Mr Trump revealed that he asked FIFA President Gianni Infantino to look into the red card shown to United States striker Folarin Balogun during their match against Bosnia.

FIFA lifted Balogun’s one-match suspension ahead of the Americans’ next game against Belgium. However, despite Balogun being available, the United States lost badly 4-1, ending their tournament in disappointment.

Mr Trump has often claimed credit for the United States getting the right to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico. FIFA gave the tournament to them during his first term as president.

His relationship with Mr Infantino has become closer over the years. At the FIFA World Cup draw in Washington last year, Infantino presented Trump with a newly created FIFA Peace Prize. This prize gained attention after the US later started military actions against Venezuela and Iran.

Sunday’s trophy presentation will also bring back memories of another controversial FIFA event. After Chelsea won against Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final at the same New Jersey venue, Mr Trump presented the trophy to captain Reece James. He unexpectedly stayed on the podium during the club’s celebrations, surprising many Chelsea players.

The president later kept a replica of the Club World Cup trophy in his office. Now, as Spain and Argentina get ready to fight for football’s top prize, President Trump will again be in the spotlight as he presents the FIFA World Cup Trophy to the champions, marking the end of the largest World Cup in history.