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United States President Donald Trump is expected to attend the FIFA World Cup final and take part in the trophy presentation ceremony, according to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Infantino said Trump, 80, will be present at the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he is also expected to help present the trophy to the winning team. The US leader has not yet attended any matches during the tournament but could still appear before the final.
Speaking to Fox, Infantino confirmed the plan for the closing ceremony and described his close relationship with Trump.
"We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course," he said. When asked whether they would present the trophy together, he added, "Of course, we are together all the time."
The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across three countries, including the United States, Mexico and Canada. A total of 104 matches are scheduled for the tournament, with the United States hosting 78 of those games.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, said Trump's absence from matches so far is due to a packed schedule. He told the Telegraph that the president prefers to keep people guessing about his appearances.
Although he has not attended World Cup matches yet, Trump has been active in other sporting events. He attended a UFC event at the White House recently and also became the first sitting US president to attend an NBA Finals game. That appearance drew attention after he was booed by some fans during Game 3, where the New York Knicks lost 115 to 111 to the San Antonio Spurs.
Last year, Trump was also present at the Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where he handed the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. His decision to remain on the podium during the celebration reportedly surprised some players, including James, who later said he expected the president to exit after the presentation.
"They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage," James said. "But he wanted to stay."
As anticipation builds for the World Cup final, attention is now turning to the ceremonial role Trump may play on one of football's biggest stages.
