FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will join him in presenting the World Cup trophy at the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The announcement came during an interview with Fox & Friends, where Infantino stated, 'We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.' This marks a departure from recent tradition, as neither Russian President Vladimir Putin nor Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani participated in the trophy ceremonies for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup finals, respectively.
Trump previously participated in the trophy presentation for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, also held at MetLife Stadium, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0. During that event, Trump remained on stage as Chelsea lifted the trophy, an appearance that drew mixed reactions from players and spectators. Chelsea's Cole Palmer later expressed confusion about Trump's presence on stage during the celebration.
Infantino and Trump have cultivated a close relationship, with the FIFA president awarding Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize in December 2025. The White House has also established a task force for the 2026 World Cup, with Andrew Giuliani serving as its executive director. Trump has yet to attend a World Cup match but has been involved in other high-profile sporting events, including the NBA Finals and UFC Freedom 250.
Meanwhile, France's World Cup campaign has been impacted by personal tragedy. Manager Didier Deschamps will miss the team's final group stage match against Norway after his mother's death. The French Football Federation announced that Deschamps will return to France to attend her funeral and will not oversee training or the match.