FIFA President confirms Trump to present World Cup trophy at final
US President will assist in handing the trophy to the winner, marking his first confirmed attendance at a 2026 World Cup fixture.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 World Cup final and assist in presenting the trophy to the winner. The event is scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, marking a significant escalation in the President’s involvement with the tournament, which commenced on 11 June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking to Fox, Infantino described the arrangement as a joint appearance, stating, "We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course." When asked if the presentation would be a collaborative effort, the FIFA President added, "Of course, we are together all the time," noting his close relationship with the US leader.
Trump, aged 80, has not yet attended a match during the current tournament, despite the United States hosting 78 of the 104 fixtures. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, attributed the President’s absence from earlier games to a busy schedule, telling the Telegraph that Trump prefers to "leave people watching."
The President’s engagement with football has previously drawn scrutiny. Last summer, Trump presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James at the same MetLife Stadium venue but remained on the podium after the ceremony, causing confusion among players. Infantino noted that Trump received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December prior to the tournament draw.
The final will also feature a half-time show headlined by Madonna, Shakira, and BTS. Meanwhile, legal tensions persist in the host region, with New York and New Jersey having subpoenaed FIFA regarding ticket sales practices. It remains unconfirmed whether Trump will attend any matches prior to the final.
