Donald Trump to attend World Cup final on July 19, says White House
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US President Donald Trump will attend the July 19 World Cup final between Argentina and Spain at the MetLife Stadium.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – United States President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final on July 19 between Spain and Argentina, the White House said, saving his first appearance at the tournament for its grand finale.
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing on July 16: “His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American history.
“This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”
The 80-year-old US leader will also attend a reception for football’s world governing body FIFA at Trump Tower in New York on July 17, Leavitt said.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino had announced in June that Trump would attend the final in New Jersey and present the trophy to the winners, but it had not been confirmed by the White House.
Leavitt said she did not know whether Trump would be supporting Argentina or Spain, after he criticised the European nation at a NATO summit last week for failing to help with the Iran war.
While Trump has not attended any World Cup games so far, he has been involved in the tournament in a more controversial way.
Trump confirmed earlier in July that he asked FIFA’s Infantino to review a decision to hand a red card to star US striker Folarin Balogun during a game against Bosnia and Herzegovina.
FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-game ban ahead of the Americans’ next match, against Belgium. Despite Balogun’s presence on the field, the hosts were embarrassed in a 4-1 blowout.
Trump has also repeatedly claimed credit for securing the US the right to co-host the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, a decision made by FIFA in his first term.
Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with Trump, awarding him with a newly created FIFA Peace Prize at the World Cup draw in Washington in 2025, months before the US launched military action against Venezuela and Iran.
Letting Trump present the World Cup trophy follows controversy surrounding the presentation of the Club World Cup to English club Chelsea after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the same stadium in New Jersey in 2025.
Trump handed the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, but then failed to leave the stage, meaning he initially took part in the team’s celebrations alongside bemused players.
He later kept a replica of the trophy in his office.
While he will be in attendance at the MetLife Stadium, his Argentinian counterpart Javier Milei said on July 16 he will not be present, preferring to continue watching his country take on Spain from home.
Milei told El Observador radio that “under no circumstances” would he break his so-called good luck ritual of watching World Cup matches from the presidential residency, as he has done in the lead-up to the final.
He also shared another lucky ritual he has held dear throughout this edition of the World Cup: wearing a thick jacket from the oil company YPF during every match.
The Argentinian leader was sporting the garment during his country’s quarter-final against Switzerland, which the team won 3-1.
“Since it was cold and I don’t turn on the heating, I use a jacket from the oil company which, on the day of the match against Switzerland, kept me really warm,” he said.
“When I took it off, we conceded a goal, so I put it back on and haven’t taken it off since.”
Spain’s King Felipe VI is set to attend the July 19 decider. AFP
