Trump to present World Cup trophy alongside Infantino at July 19 final

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed Tuesday that President Trump will jointly present the World Cup trophy at the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium.espn
The arrangement breaks from recent FIFA protocol, where the trophy was presented solely by the FIFA president at the 2022 and 2018 World Cups.espn
Trump has not attended any matches since the tournament began June 11, despite the U.S. co-hosting the event with Canada and Mexico.nytimes

Trump to Attend World Cup Final and Present Trophy Alongside Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump will attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and jointly present the championship trophy to the winning team’s captain.

A Joint Presentation

Infantino made the announcement on Fox & Friends, saying, “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.” The arrangement marks a departure from typical FIFA protocol, in which the trophy has been presented solely by the FIFA president at the last two World Cups in Qatar and Russia.espn

“This trophy will be handed out on the 19th of July to the captain of the team who will win the World Cup,” Infantino said. “I will give it together with the President of the United States, the host nation. No one else will touch this trophy.”usatoday

First Match of the Tournament

Trump has not attended any World Cup matches since the tournament kicked off on June 11, despite the United States co-hosting the event with Canada and Mexico. He skipped the U.S. men’s national team’s opener against Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, with the White House citing scheduling conflicts. His appearance at the final will mark his first game of the tournament.nytimes

Precedent From the Club World Cup

The joint trophy presentation mirrors Trump’s role at last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final, also held at MetLife Stadium, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 on July 13, 2025. Trump joined Infantino at midfield to present the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, drawing a mix of boos and cheers from the crowd. That appearance generated controversy after a replica of the Club World Cup trophy was later placed in the Oval Office, which FIFA said was “in recognition of the exceptional hosts of the 2025 tournament.”yahoo

The World Cup final will cap a 104-match tournament spread across 16 venues in three countries, with the United States hosting all matches from the quarterfinals onward.facebook