President Trump was seen marveling at the FIFA World Cup trophy after arriving at the finals at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday alongside other world leaders.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino seemingly encouraged Trump to touch the golden trophy, and the US commander in chief eagerly obliged. The two men are set to present the trophy to the winner of Sunday’s game between Spain and Argentina.
An excited-looking Trump, who is the first sitting US president to attend a World Cup final, was seen standing next to his wife, Melania, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Infantino at one point in their special viewing box.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has repeatedly clashed with Trump, appeared to be standing further down next to Sheinbaum.
Multiple advocacy groups distributed “red cards” to fans ahead of the game so that they could hold them up in protest of Trump and Infantino when they present the trophy to Sunday’s winner.
Right before Sunday’s match, Trump reiterated how he wants another World Cup played in the US — although not also in the rest of North America, i.e., Mexico and Canada.
“Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately,” Trump told Fox Sports. “We have to do this again. And we have to do it while I’m around.”
Trump was meanwhile careful about predicting a winner in Sunday’s game but hinted he was leaning toward Argentina.
“I hate to get involved, even though politically it doesn’t matter so much. The head of Argentina is a friend of mine. He’s done a terrific job. But I would say that it’s hard to bet against [Lionel] Messi,” Trump told Fox Sports, referring to the Argentinian legend.
“It takes some talent to hit the ball off the head coming at that speed. But that was perfect. If you had a strike zone, it was exactly where it had to be. And I watched also just before that, the way he got away from the defender, he was very well defended. All of a sudden, he’s standing by himself,” Trump said of one spectacular Messi play.
The president credited his son Barron for keeping him briefed on World Cup games.
Trump has been chummy with Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, but has chafed with Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
Milei has opted against attending the World Cup game in person because of his superstitions and is staying at home, where he watched Argentina’s other games and is wearing the same heavy jacket he previously wore during those matches.
Sánchez and Spain’s king, Felipe VI, attended the game.
