Trump to join Infantino for World Cup trophy presentation
Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy alongside Gianni Infantino, highlighting FIFA’s deep political and commercial ties to the US administration as Europe’s flagship sporting event concludes.
Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina to hand the trophy to the winning team. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president's plans on Thursday. “This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage,” Leavitt said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino told Swiss outlet Blue Sport this week that he and Trump will present the trophy together. “Yes, hopefully we’ll present the trophy together in the final,” Infantino said. “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.”
The practice follows previous finals where the emir of Qatar joined Infantino to award the trophy in 2022, and when Vladimir Putin presented it to France in 2018. For European football stakeholders, the upcoming ceremony again highlights FIFA’s reliance on political patronage from host nations to legitimize its global showcase.
This relationship extends beyond the ceremonial duties. Trump has maintained a close relationship with Infantino and previously called the FIFA president to lobby for a review of American striker Folarin Balogun’s controversial red-card suspension. FIFA subsequently reversed the ban ahead of the last-16 match against Belgium.
However, the political intervention drew attention away from the US squad, who exited a promising tournament with a flat loss. The institutional ties between the American administration and football’s governing body are also physically anchored in New York. FIFA opened an office in Trump Tower last year.
Leavitt announced that Trump will host a FIFA reception at the building on Friday. When Trump presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea at the same New Jersey stadium last summer, he was met with loud boos. He has faced similar crowd reactions at the US Open, the Ryder Cup and a recent NBA finals game.
Leavitt declined to say whether the president was backing Spain or Argentina on Sunday. “I’m sure he’ll have a fun answer for you,” she told reporters.
