President Trump participated in the World Cup final trophy presentation on Sunday, awarding Spain their medals and championship trophy after the team secured a 1-0 victory over Argentina in a tightly contested match.
Trump joined FIFA President Giovanni Infantino on the field shortly after the final whistle, following the tournament tradition in which the leader of the host country presents the winning team with their trophy and medals. The ceremony capped a final that saw both teams struggle to find scoring opportunities throughout much of the match before Spain emerged victorious.
Presidential Neutrality and Soccer Appreciation
While Trump did not publicly favor either team before the final, he has expressed admiration for several of the sport’s biggest stars. In recent comments, the president spoke favorably about both Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo, two of soccer’s most decorated players.
“I got to see Pele play, and he was great,” Trump said, referencing the Brazilian legend. “Look, these are great players, and there are others. Look at France; he had a rough game the other day, but he’s [Kylian Mbappe] certainly one of the greats. I get this information from my son. My son Barron is a tremendous soccer fan.”
The president credited his son Barron with keeping him informed about the sport’s top talent, acknowledging the younger Trump’s passion for soccer.
Trump continued his praise for the sport’s elite players, saying, “You have some other really incredible players playing here, but I would say right now, when you look, I’ve always liked Ronaldo, and I’ve always liked Messi. I met Messi recently, and I know Cristiano; they have a pretty good life. I think they have a pretty good life, actually, much easier than my life! I want to switch for about a month or so.”
Tournament Success and Future Hosting
Following the final, Trump declared the World Cup a success for the United States and indicated that the country would seek to host the tournament again in the near future.
“Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately,” Trump said. “I said, to take out the shock, you could announce another country for the next one… but we have to do this again.”
The president’s comments suggest satisfaction with the United States’ performance as host nation, though he did not provide specific metrics or attendance figures to support his assessment.
The World Cup final traditionally represents one of the most-watched sporting events globally, drawing billions of viewers. The host nation’s leader presenting the trophy has become an established tradition that adds ceremonial weight to the tournament’s conclusion.
Spain’s victory over Argentina marked the culmination of weeks of competition, with the Spanish side managing to break through against an Argentine defense that had proven difficult to penetrate throughout the tournament. The 1-0 scoreline reflected the defensive strength of both teams and the difficulty both sides faced in creating clear scoring chances during the match.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/07/19/watch-trump-awards-victorious-spain-with-medals-trophy-at-world-cup/