Donald Trump just scored a major role at the World Cup Final, and it has nothing to do with politics. FIFA’s president confirmed exactly what the U.S. President will be doing on stage at the July 19 final in New Jersey.
Donald Trump to present trophy to World Cup winners
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy. The presentation will take place at the final in New Jersey on July 19.
In a break from recent FIFA protocol, Trump and Infantino will jointly hand the trophy to the winners. “We will be together with the president [Trump] enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino told Fox & Friends. He added, “We are together all the time.” At Qatar 2022 and Russia 2018, Infantino alone presented the trophy to the winning captain.
The decision follows controversy surrounding the FIFA Club World Cup presentation last summer. Trump presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain in New Jersey. However, his failure to leave the stage drew attention as he joined team celebrations alongside bemused players.
The co-presentation format marks a shift from the approach used under Infantino and his predecessor, Sepp Blatter. Both FIFA presidents traditionally handled the trophy presentation without the heads of state’s involvement. Yet this arrangement is not entirely without precedent in World Cup history.
Heads of state have previously presented the World Cup trophy on notable occasions. King Juan Carlos of Spain handed the trophy to Italy captain Dino Zoff in 1982. Similarly, Queen Elizabeth II presented the trophy to England captain Bobby Moore following the Three Lions’ victory in 1966.
The upcoming final will therefore revive a tradition that had largely faded from FIFA tournaments in recent decades. Trump’s involvement adds a significant political dimension to the closing ceremony of the 2026 tournament.
