On Sunday, July 19, US President Donald Trump will appear at the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. For the first time in the tournament's history, two people will present the trophy — Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino will jointly hand the World Cup to the captain of the winning team.
"We will enjoy the final together with the president and will present the trophy to the winner — of course, together"
Gianni Infantino, FIFA President, in a comment to Fox & Friends
Before the match, Trump will attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York. This is not his first experience: last year he already presented the trophy at the Club World Cup at the same MetLife, when Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3:0.
Diplomatic Discomfort in the Stands
The context makes Trump's appearance at the stadium significantly more complex than a protocol gesture. At the NATO summit a few weeks ago, he publicly criticized Spain for insufficient defense spending and refusal to provide American forces access to Spanish bases during the conflict with Iran. Now he will sit in the stands while Spain's national team plays the final on American soil.
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt, when asked by journalists which team the president would support, did not provide an answer. The Spanish side did not publicly escalate the situation: the foreign minister, after meeting with Trump, described the atmosphere of negotiations as "very friendly" — although no specific concessions from Madrid were recorded.
Infantino, the "Peace Prize" and the Letter from MEPs
The joint appearance of the two leaders on the podium is not just a sports ritual. In December 2025, Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever "FIFA Peace Prize" in history. In response, 50 members of the European Parliament appealed to the organization demanding it prove its commitment to "political neutrality" and refer the matter to FIFA's Ethics Committee. The human rights organization FairSquare, which initiated the complaint, deals with issues of labor migration and repression in sports.
This is already the second resonant gesture by Trump surrounding the tournament: earlier, he personally called Infantino asking him to review the red card shown to American striker Folarin Balogun. FIFA did not change the decision.
Why This Matters Beyond Football
- Tournament as a showcase. The US is hosting the World Cup for the first time since 1994 — and for the first time in the 48-team format, jointly with Canada and Mexico. For Trump, his presence at the final fits into the narrative of the "most successful World Cup in American history" — that's how Levitt characterized it.
- Trump — Infantino: mutual benefit. Infantino gains access to the White House and American audience, Trump — a global platform and a symbolic role as the planet's host in a moment when billions are watching the match.
- The Spanish factor. If Spain's national team wins, Trump will present the trophy to a country he publicly accused of irresponsibility as an ally. A handshake on camera in such a case would become an image that will be discussed for a long time.
The final with a super-bowl show during halftime — Madonna, Shakira, BTS, Justin Bieber — is designed for record viewership numbers. If Spain wins and Trump nonetheless presents the trophy to them, the question is not whether there will be an awkward pause — but whether Madrid will use this moment to publicly remind him about NATO.
