Former United States President Donald Trump is slated to play a leading role in the trophy ceremony at the upcoming World Cup final, scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The announcement, made by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during an interview on Fox News, positions Trump alongside Infantino as the winning team receives football’s most coveted prize.
Trump’s confirmed presence and past involvement
Infantino confirmed Trump’s involvement, stating, “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.” This marks a significant moment, as Trump is expected to personally present the trophy to the victorious squad.
This will not be Trump’s first appearance at a FIFA trophy presentation. Last summer, he participated in the Club World Cup ceremony at the same New Jersey stadium, where he presented the trophy to Chelsea. His presence then caused some surprise among players, including Chelsea’s Cole Palmer, who remarked, “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, so I was a bit confused.”
The decision to include Trump in such a prominent capacity at the World Cup final represents a departure from recent tradition. Neither Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018 nor Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in 2022 were involved in the trophy presentations for France or Argentina, respectively.
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Strengthening ties with FIFA and absence from US matches
Trump’s relationship with FIFA executive Gianni Infantino has visibly strengthened since he took office. In December 2025, Trump was the inaugural recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize, awarded at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., during the World Cup final draw. The two leaders also posed for a selfie at the official draw event. Furthermore, Trump established the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, naming Andrew Giuliani as its executive director.
Despite the United States having won both of their home tournament games, Trump has not yet attended any of the matches to watch the national team compete. He was notably absent from the US’s opening game against Paraguay, a 4-1 victory on June 12. Instead of attending, Trump was preparing to make an appearance at UFC Freedom 250, an event held at the White House to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States. According to SportBible, Trump is not anticipated to attend any World Cup fixtures until the final.
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