Will Donald Trump attend the 2026 World Cup final? What we know

Spain is through to the 2026 World Cup final after defeating France, and now all eyes turn to the second semifinal between Argentina and England to determine their opponent. But as the soccer world builds toward the biggest match of the tournament, there’s another question brewing amongst fans: Will U.S. President Donald Trump be at the final?

Trump’s World Cup final plans - what’s been confirmed

According to FIFA president Gianni Infantino, the plan has long been for Donald Trump to attend the World Cup final, and play a formal role in it. He is expected to be at MetLife Stadium on July 19 and take part in the trophy presentation ceremony, joining Infantino on stage to hand the World Cup trophy to the winners.

Has Trump attended any matches so far?

Interestingly, Trump has not been a visible presence at matches during the tournament itself so far.

Despite the U.S. hosting the majority of games, including all matches from the quarterfinals onward, the president has largely stayed away from attending in person, making the final his first expected appearance.

Trump’s involvement in the tournament, however, has not come without controversy. In recent weeks, scrutiny has grown around his close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, with critics questioning whether politics has become too intertwined with the sport.

Reports have pointed to Trump’s frequent contact with FIFA leadership during the tournament, as well as his visible role in shaping the event’s public image in the United States. Some soccer officials and commentators have also raised concerns about the optics of a sitting U.S. president playing such a prominent ceremonial role, particularly given FIFA’s longstanding emphasis on political neutrality.

There has also been attention on Trump’s past remarks about Spain, especially now that they are through to the final. During previous public comments, Trump criticized Spain in the context of trade and international relations, at one point portraying the country as economically dependent on the United States and questioning its global standing. While those remarks were not directly related to soccer, their resurfacing has sparked discussion about how it might look if Trump presents the World Cup trophy to Spain should they win.

There has also been discussion among fans about the “Trump curse”, a theory suggesting that teams associated with or attended by Donald Trump often go on to lose. The idea has picked up traction during this tournament after several widely shared examples, including the U.S. team’s heavy defeat to Belgium following Trump’s high-profile intervention, as well as the New York Knicks losing the only NBA Finals game he attended during their championship run.

For now, however, none of the remaining teams - Spain, England, or Argentina - appear at risk, as Trump has not publicly backed any side. If anything, that neutrality may be welcomed by fans wary of superstition.

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