Trump to attend World Cup final, present trophy to winners

The current world champion Argentina is going to face Spain in the FIFA World Cup final match on Sunday (July 19) at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. US President Donald Trump will be present in this high-voltage match. The White House confirmed this information on Thursday (July 16) local time. Reuters

White House press secretary Caroline Levitt said that Trump will attend a FIFA reception held at Trump Tower in Manhattan, New York on Friday (July 17). He will then attend the final match held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday.

Earlier last month, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that he and Trump will present the trophy to the winning team together after the final.

Infantino said, "We will enjoy the final with the president and of course we will present the trophy to the winning team."

The tradition of heads of state of different countries attending the World Cup final is old. Heads of state also attended the trophy presentation ceremonies at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Although neither Trump nor Vice President J.D. Vance attended any of the 102 matches played so far at this year's World Cup. The United States, Canada and Mexico are jointly hosting this year's World Cup. However, members of the Trump administration's cabinet have been present at some of the matches of the US men's national team.

Levitt said, "The president's presence will conclude the most watched, safest and most successful World Cup in US history."

The United States has hosted the men's soccer World Cup only once before, in 1994.

As president, Trump has regularly attended major sporting events. These include the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis tournament, the Ryder Cup, the Daytona 500 and various UFC events.

Last year, he also enjoyed a UFC tournament and a match of the NBA Finals at Madison Square Garden in New York.

He was also present at the Club World Cup final last summer at MetLife Stadium and was on stage with English club Chelsea after they won the trophy.