“Trump Curse” trends online after Argentina’s shocking World Cup Final loss to Spain. The internet revived a familiar pattern after the President’s pre-match comments about Lionel Messi preceded yet another loss for the team he appeared to support.
Internet revives ‘Trump Curse’ trend after Argentina’s loss
The internet has revived the “Trump Curse” trend after Argentina lost to Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final. USA TODAY reported that President Donald Trump made friendly remarks about Lionel Messi before the match. In a pre-recorded interview with Fox’s Jenny Taft, Trump praised the Argentine star.
“I would say that it’s hard to bet against Messi … I won’t pick sides. I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi. He’s great,” Trump said. Meanwhile, Trump bashed Spain during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey. “We don’t want to do any trade with Spain anymore. Spain is a terrible partner in NATO,” Trump said.
Trump attended the final and faced boos when he stepped onto the field. He presented trophies for the tournament after the match concluded. His interaction with Messi during the silver medal ceremony remained brief.
The trend gained traction earlier in the tournament after the U.S. men’s national team lost 4-1 to Belgium. Trump had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review a red card issued to forward Folarin Balogun. FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-game ban, allowing the striker to play in the eventual loss. The Belgian Football Association mocked the decision on social media after the dominant victory.
The pattern extended beyond soccer into other sports throughout Trump’s presidency. The New York Knicks suffered their only 2026 NBA Finals loss in the game Trump attended. Knicks fans accused Trump of placing a “curse” on the team after the 111-115 Game 3 defeat. Kazeem Famuyide posted video of fans holding sage outside Madison Square Garden to “cleanse” it.
Trump also attended the 2025 Ryder Cup, where the U.S. lost 15-13 to Europe. He told reporters at the event, “We’re going to get it done. One way or another, we’ll get it done.”
