The 2026 World Cup has had no shortage of worldwide celebrities attending the matches across North America. And the championship match between Argentina and Spain will feature the Soccer Fan in Chief.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on July 16 that President Donald Trump will attend the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Trump’s attendance isn’t a surprise though. Last month, FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Trump would present the post-match trophy.
Leavitt said Trump will travel to New York City on July 17 for the FIFA reception at Trump Tower. He will stay for Sunday’s game. Though there isn’t a confirmation that he will be the trophy presenter, he is expected to do the honors.
Trump attending the final isn’t abnormal for World Cup history. Leaders in the past, including Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Vladimir Putin, presented medals in the past.
Trump at sporting events
Trump has a longstanding relationship with attending major sporting events throughout his presidency. According to Stadium Talk, Trump has attending a handful of events.
How to watch World Cup final
The World Cup final will take place at 3 p.m. in the MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey. You can find the championship match on TV on Fox or if you are looking for the Spanish version, Telemundo. For a live stream, you can head over Fubo and watch with a free trial. It will also be available on Peacock in Spanish.
Wanting to watch live? According to Stubhub, you can get tickets starting at $8,171. Hotels in East Rutherford have limited availability and rooms starting at $708 according to Booking.com.
Trump’s impact on the World Cup
The World Cup red card incident was influenced by Trump’s input. During the USMNT’s win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, striker Folarin Balogun received a red card which would require him sit out of the next match. But the card was reviewed and the suspension was postponed after Trump made a call to the FIFA President, Infantino. This caused an uproar across the nation from World Cup fans and teams alike. However, having Balogun on the field didn’t help the US team and they fell to Belgium 1-4.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Donald Trump to attend 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey
Reporting by Samantha Guillotte, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Samantha Guillotte, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
