Former President Set for Prominent Role in Soccer Championship
Donald Trump is slated to participate in the World Cup final match on July 19 in New Jersey, regardless of which team emerges victorious. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that Trump will be present to award the World Cup trophy to the tournament’s winners at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
‘We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,’ Infantino stated during a recent interview. ‘We are together all the time.’
Breaking with Precedent
This appearance marks a departure from recent traditions. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani were part of the trophy presentation ceremonies for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups, respectively. Infantino has previously shown a pattern of publicly supporting Trump.
In December, following Trump’s unsuccessful bid for the Nobel Peace Prize, FIFA presented him with the organization’s inaugural ‘FIFA Peace Prize.’ At the time, Infantino remarked, ‘You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way, but you have obtained it in an incredible way. You can always count, Mr. President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community – or ‘soccer’ community – to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world.’
Potential for Pre-Final Appearances
Andrew Giuliani, who directs the White House World Cup Task Force, has not ruled out the possibility of Trump making an appearance at the tournament prior to the championship match. ‘He likes a good cliffhanger,’ Giuliani commented. ‘He likes to leave people watching.’
Past Trophy Ceremony Involvement
Trump has a history of participating in FIFA trophy ceremonies. In 2025, he was present on stage as Chelsea accepted the trophy after winning the Club World Cup title against Paris Saint-Germain. Cole Palmer, a player for Chelsea at the time, recalled the experience, stating, ‘I knew he was going to be here but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy. I was a bit confused, yes.’
Tournament’s Economic and Social Impact
The World Cup is anticipated to provide a positive narrative for the White House communications team. FIFA projects that the 2026 World Cup will contribute $17 billion to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product. Beyond the economic projections, fan reception to the tournament has been largely positive. Notably, Scottish fans, known as the Tartan Army, have been warmly received in cities like Boston and Miami, with their presence fostering friendly interactions with local residents.
One Scottish fan, Gail Nicholl, shared an anecdote: ‘I met these two gorgeous girls from Boston. It was her birthday, she was having cocktails. I bought her another one and they kept saying ‘welcome to Boston, Massachusetts!’. They loved us, we loved them… Everyone is so friendly, so nice.’
A Swiss fan echoed the sentiment, remarking, ‘Something new for me is how friendly and outgoing everyone is.’
