Trump to Attend FIFA World Cup Final, White House Confirms

US President Donald Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, the White House confirmed, marking his first appearance at a match during the 2026 tournament.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that the president was looking forward to the final. "We look forward to the final match on Sunday, and I know the president looks forward to attending," she said, adding that "his attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history."

Trophy Presentation on the Field

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said he and Trump would present the World Cup trophy together to the winning team's captain on the field at MetLife Stadium. "We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said. The president is also set to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday.

The arrangement mirrors last year's FIFA Club World Cup final, also held at the New Jersey stadium, when Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. Trump participated in that trophy presentation and remained on stage for the celebrations, an appearance that caused some confusion as the players marked their victory.

A Central Figure in the Tournament

Trump has made the World Cup a centrepiece event of his second presidency, which has coincided with the 250th anniversary of US independence. He established a White House task force ahead of the tournament, which he leads with Vice President JD Vance serving as vice chair, and featured prominently in the tournament's official draw in Washington in December 2025, where he was named the first recipient of a new FIFA Peace Prize awarded by Infantino.
The expanded 48-team tournament, up from 32 nations at the 2022 Qatar World Cup, has been co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is the second time the US has hosted the competition, having previously staged it in 1994.

Not Without Controversy

Trump's involvement in the tournament has not been free of controversy. He was criticised for his supposed role in a FIFA disciplinary committee decision to suspend a red card issued to United States forward Folarin Balogun during the USMNT's run to the round of 16. Trump said he had merely asked for a review of the incident. "All I did was I asked for a review because I didn't think it was a foul," he said, adding, "I'm good at this stuff."

Ahead of the tournament, the president had also brought domestic politics into the event, at one point threatening to move World Cup matches away from Democratic-run cities if he deemed conditions to be unsafe. Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina will bring the expanded, tri-nation tournament to a close at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
This is a developing story and will be updated as further details become available.