President Donald Trump is set to make a notable appearance at the 2026 World Cup final, where he will present the trophy to the champion team. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed this during an appearance on Fox & Friends on June 23, stating that he and Trump will be present at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey for the pivotal match on July 19.

Infantino expressed enthusiasm about the event, saying, "We will be there with the President, enjoying the final, and of course, presenting the Cup to the winning team." This will mark Trump’s first attendance at a World Cup match, following a controversial appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final last year, where he stayed longer than usual on the field after presenting the trophy, causing some awkwardness among players.

Earlier in June, FIFA had communicated to the White House their desire for Trump to personally hand over the golden trophy to the captain of the World Cup champion this year. Officials from Canada and Mexico, the co-hosts of the tournament alongside the U.S., have also been invited to the closing ceremony.

Typically, the trophy is placed on a separate podium before a member of the winning team brings it onto the stage for celebrations. However, FIFA has allowed Trump the discretion to decide how he wishes to participate in the ceremony. It is believed that he may opt to remain among the players during the trophy lift, similar to his previous appearance with Chelsea players during the Club World Cup celebration.

In addition to Trump, various U.S. officials have attended World Cup 2026 events, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who watched the U.S. defeat Paraguay 4-1 at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles on June 12. The relationship between Trump and Infantino is noted to be close, with the FIFA President visiting the White House multiple times during the World Cup preparations and previously awarding Trump the FIFA Peace Prize during the World Cup draw in Washington last December.

While it is customary for the FIFA President to present the trophy, there have been instances in history where heads of state have taken on this role, such as King Juan Carlos of Spain in 1982 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1966.