Trump to Attend FIFA World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium

US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday's FIFA World Cup final. The match features Spain against Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The White House confirmed his attendance on Friday. This will mark his first appearance at a match during the 2026 tournament.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt spoke to reporters about the announcement. She said the president looks forward to attending Sunday's final. Leavitt described the tournament as the most watched World Cup in American history. She also called it the most secure and successful edition yet.

Trophy Presentation on the Field

FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed a special moment planned for Sunday. He and Trump will present the World Cup trophy together. They will hand it to the winning team's captain on the field. Infantino said he looks forward to sharing this moment with the president.

The president will also attend a FIFA reception in New York on Friday. The event will take place at Trump Tower.

This plan mirrors last year's FIFA Club World Cup final. That match also took place at the same New Jersey stadium. Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in that final. Trump joined that trophy presentation and stayed on stage afterward. His presence created some confusion among players celebrating their win.

A Central Figure Throughout the Tournament

Trump has placed the World Cup at the center of his second presidency. This tournament also coincides with America's 250th independence anniversary. He created a White House task force ahead of the event. Vice President JD Vance serves as vice chair of that task force. Trump also played a prominent role during the tournament's official draw. That event took place in Washington back in December 2025. FIFA named him the first winner of its new Peace Prize during that ceremony.

This year's tournament expanded to 48 teams. That number rose from 32 nations at the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Three countries co-hosted this edition together. The United States, Mexico, and Canada shared hosting duties. This marks only the second time the US has hosted the competition. America previously hosted the World Cup back in 1994.

A Tournament Not Without Controversy

Trump's role in this World Cup has drawn some criticism too. He faced backlash over a FIFA disciplinary decision during the tournament. That decision suspended a red card given to USMNT forward Folarin Balogun. The call came during the team's run to the round of 16. Trump denied influencing the outcome directly. He said he only requested a review of the play. He argued he did not believe the incident counted as a foul.

Trump also brought domestic politics into the tournament earlier this year. He once threatened to move matches away from cities led by Democratic officials. He said he would do this if he viewed local conditions as unsafe. Sunday's final will now close out this expanded, three-nation tournament. The championship match takes place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.