Trump to present World Cup trophy as Argentina face Spain in New Jersey final

Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain on Sunday and present the trophy to the winning team alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the White House has confirmed.

The US president has not attended any of the 102 matches played so far across the United States, Canada and Mexico, but press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed his presence at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. “We look forward to the final match on Sunday, and I know the president looks forward to attending,” Leavitt said. “This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”

Infantino confirmed the arrangement, telling Swiss outlet Blue Sport: “Yes, hopefully we’ll present the trophy together in the final. That’s always been the plan, and 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 most significant involvement in the tournament came before the last-16 match against Belgium, when he publicly asked FIFA to review US striker Folarin Balogun’s one-match suspension. FIFA controversially suspended the ban, prompting Trump to hail the decision as the reversal of “a great injustice.” The episode generated considerable controversy, with Balogun later acknowledging the intervention had created difficult “noise” around the squad. The United States were ultimately eliminated, losing 4-1 to Belgium.

Trump previously presented the Club World Cup trophy last summer when Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain in a final also held in New Jersey, making Sunday’s appearance a second major footballing occasion at which he has taken a ceremonial role.