WASHINGTON
US President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, the White House said, saving his first appearance at the tournament for its grand finale. “His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing on Thursday.
“This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.” The US leader will also attend a reception for football’s world governing body FIFA at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Leavitt said.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino had announced in June that Trump would attend the final in New Jersey and present the trophy to the winners, but it had not been confirmed by the White House.
Leavitt said she did not know whether Trump would be supporting Argentina or Spain, after he criticized the European nation at a NATO summit last week for failing to help with the Iran war.
While Trump has not attended any World Cup games so far, he has been involved in the tournament in a more controversial way.
Trump confirmed earlier this month that he asked FIFA’s Infantino to review a decision to hand a red card to star US striker Folarin Balogun during a game against Bosnia.
FIFA suspended Balogun’s one-game ban ahead of the Americans’ next match, against Belgium. Despite Balogun’s presence on the field, the hosts were embarrassed in a 4-1 blowout.
Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for securing the United States the right to co-host the 2026 World Cup along with Canada and Mexico, a decision made by FIFA in his first term.
Infantino has meanwhile cultivated a close relationship with Trump, awarding him with a newly created FIFA peace prize at the World Cup draw in Washington last year, months before the US launched military action against Venezuela and Iran.
Letting Trump present the World Cup trophy follows controversy surrounding the presentation of the Club World Cup to English club Chelsea after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain at the same stadium in New Jersey last year.
Trump handed the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, but then failed to leave the stage, meaning he initially took part in the team’s celebrations alongside bemused players.
He later kept a replica of the trophy in his office. Referee Ismail Elfath’s act of prostration, or sajda, after Argentina’s World Cup semi-final win over England has gone viral, with fans praising the Moroccan-born American official’s gesture of humility and gratitude.
Elfath was seen performing an act of prostration after Argentina’s 2-1 comeback victory, which sent Lionel Messi’s side into the World Cup final against Spain. Born in Casablanca, Elfath moved to the United States at the age of 18 after winning a Diversity Immigrant Visa.
He has officiated in Major League Soccer since 2012, became a Fifa-listed referee in 2016 and has twice been named MLS Referee of the Year.
He was also selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he served as fourth official for the final between Argentina and France. Elfath’s appointment for the England-Argentina match also made him the first American to referee a World Cup semi-final.
However, his handling of the match came under scrutiny after several contentious decisions during a physical first half.
Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett criticised Elfath for not issuing an early yellow card to Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez after a head-high challenge on England’s Elliot Anderson.
Critics said the decision helped set the tone for a tense match marked by frequent fouls and repeated appeals from England players.
The decision drew further attention after Fernandez later scored Argentina’s equaliser in the 85th minute, cancelling out Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute opener. Lautaro Martinez then completed Argentina’s comeback with a stoppage-time header.
Elfath’s appointment had already prompted debate online because Messi’s teams were 5-0 in matches in which Elfath had worked in some capacity. Critics used the statistic to claim favouritism towards Argentina, though no evidence of bias has been presented.
Supporters of Elfath have pointed to his experience and record in major matches, while critics argue that the appointment created an optics problem for Fifa before such a high-profile fixture.
After the match, Messi dismissed allegations that Argentina had benefited from refereeing decisions, saying the team’s success was built on consistency, effort and quality on the pitch.
Argentina’s victory keeps alive their bid to become back-to-back world champions, while England missed the chance to reach the World Cup final.
