United States President Donald Trump’s involvement in the 2026 World Cup final has been confirmed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Infantino appeared on FOX and Friends on Tuesday morning, revealing precisely what part Trump will play during the showpiece final later this summer.
He said: “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course together.” When pressed on whether he and Trump would jointly present the trophy, Infantino replied, “Of course, we are together all the time.”
The news comes as Trump faces a World Cup headache, with fans targeting the president with insulting chants during matches, reportedly sending his staff into “crisis mode. “His staff are in crisis mode trying to prevent the President from being exposed to the chants in person, and that includes avoiding matches involving English-speaking teams,” a source told The Mirror.
This will not be the first occasion Trump has handed over silverware to a football side following a major tournament victory. Last year, Trump joined Chelsea on stage at MetLife Stadium — the very venue set to host the World Cup final on 19th July — to present the FIFA Club World Cup trophy.
He then awkwardly lingered on stage throughout the team’s celebrations, insisting he ‘wanted to stay. ‘ This occasion promises to be far more spectacular. The World Cup final comes around just once every four years and is widely regarded as the greatest sporting spectacle on the planet, with billions of viewers expected to tune in worldwide.
Given that the tournament is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the final set to take place in New Jersey, it was always anticipated that Trump would attend the showpiece event, if not several other matches throughout the competition.
Having not yet attended a game, prove to be the sole game he attends in person. This comes during a hectic sporting summer for the president, who recently attended an NBA Finals game at Madison Square Garden — where he was met with boos from Knicks supporters — as well as the UFC Freedom 250 event held at the White House to mark his 80th birthday.
Trump and Infantino share a peculiar bond, and the FIFA president has faced widespread accusations of courting Trump’s favour — particularly after being presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw back in December. Infantino also paid a visit to the Oval Office, bringing the World Cup trophy with him, in the build-up to the tournament getting under way.