White House says Donald Trump will attend World Cup final
Spain squad
- Full squad
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1 David RAYA Goalkeeper
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2 Marc PUBILL Defender
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3 Alex GRIMALDO Defender
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4 Eric GARCIA Defender
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5 Marcos LLORENTE Defender
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6 Mikel MERINO Midfielder
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7 Ferran TORRES Forward
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8 Fabian RUIZ Midfielder
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9 GAVI Midfielder
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10 Dani OLMO Forward
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11 Yeremy PINO Forward
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12 Pedro PORRO Defender
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13 Joan GARCIA Goalkeeper
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14 Aymeric LAPORTE Defender
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15 Alex BAENA Midfielder
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16 RODRI Midfielder
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17 Nico WILLIAMS Forward
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18 Martin ZUBIMENDI Midfielder
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19 Lamine YAMAL Forward
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20 PEDRI Midfielder
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21 Mikel OYARZABAL Forward
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22 Pau CUBARSI Defender
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23 Unai SIMON Goalkeeper
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24 Marc CUCURELLA Defender
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25 Victor MUNOZ Forward
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26 Borja IGLESIAS Forward
Argentina squad
- Full squad
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1 Juan MUSSO Goalkeeper
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2 Marcos SENESI Defender
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3 Nicolas TAGLIAFICO Defender
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4 Gonzalo MONTIEL Defender
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5 Leandro PAREDES Midfielder
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6 Lisandro MARTINEZ Defender
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7 Rodrigo DE PAUL Midfielder
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8 Valentin BARCO Midfielder
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9 Julian ALVAREZ Forward
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10 Lionel MESSI Forward
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11 Giovani Lo Celso Midfielder
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12 Geronimo RULLI Goalkeeper
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13 Cristian ROMERO Defender
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14 Exequiel PALACIOS Midfielder
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15 Nico GONZALEZ Midfielder
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16 Thiago ALMADA Forward
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17 Giuliano SIMEONE Forward
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18 Nico PAZ Forward
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19 Nicolas OTAMENDI Defender
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20 Alexis MAC ALLISTER Midfielder
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21 Jose Manuel LOPEZ Forward
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22 Lautaro MARTINEZ Forward
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23 Emiliano MARTINEZ Goalkeeper
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24 Enzo FERNANDEZ Midfielder
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25 Facundo MEDINA Defender
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26 Nahuel MOLINA Defender
The White House has confirmed that Donald Trump will attend Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at New Jersey's New York Stadium, according to press secretary Karoline Leavitt. Fifa president Gianni Infantino has said the US president will join him in presenting the trophy to the winning team, continuing a tradition in which the host nation's leader shares presentation duties with Fifa's chief. The appearance underscores Trump's increasingly prominent role in this year's tournament despite not attending any matches so far.
Infantino reiterated the trophy plan in an interview with Swiss outlet Blue Sport this week, noting it mirrors past finals, such as Qatar's emir joining him in 2022 and Vladimir Putin doing so in 2018. Trump previously presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea at the same stadium last summer, drawing boos from the crowd, and has also faced boos at a recent NBA finals game. He has been credited with lobbying Infantino to review USA player Folarin Balogun's red card before the last-16 stage, a decision that was subsequently overturned. Leavitt also confirmed Trump would attend a Fifa reception at Trump Tower on Friday, though she said she did not know which team he was supporting in the final.
In short
- Trump confirmed to attend Sunday's World Cup final in New Jersey
- He is expected to help present the trophy alongside Infantino
- Follows his lobbying over a reversed red card for USA's Balogun
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The president’s attendance can be seen as a customary part of hosting a major international tournament, with the host nation’s leader joining Fifa’s president to present the trophy. It also offers the White House a chance to recognise the event and the teams competing, while reflecting the president’s interest in the tournament.
The case against
A president’s prominent role at the final may make a sporting occasion feel more like a political platform, particularly when he is involved in a Fifa reception and trophy presentation. Given the controversy around his previous appearances and reported intervention in a disciplinary decision, critics may question whether this level of visibility risks blurring political influence with the game.
Explained simply
The World Cup is international football's premier tournament, held every four years. This year's final on Sunday will be between Spain and Argentina, with the tournament hosted by the United States. The match will determine the world champion in what is one of the most watched sporting events globally.
At World Cup finals, the host nation's leader traditionally presents the trophy alongside the president of Fifa, the sport's international governing body. This practice has been maintained across multiple tournaments in different countries. The tradition reflects the significance of the tournament to the host nation.
The American president has shown considerable engagement with this World Cup beyond the traditional ceremonial duties. His prominence at major sporting events has sometimes drawn public attention, making his participation in high-profile matches a matter of interest to observers.
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