The 2026 North American World Cup final is drawing global attention, not only for the match itself but also for the potential diplomatic encounter between U.S. President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
According to a report by Politico Europe, citing the Spanish government, Sanchez plans to attend the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Trump has also announced his intention to be present at the final, raising speculation about a possible meeting between the two leaders, who have publicly clashed in recent months.
Both Sanchez and Trump have openly disagreed on several key international issues, including NATO defense spending, immigration policy, and relations with Iran.
Earlier this month, at a NATO summit in Ankara, Trump criticized Spain as a "terrible partner" and stated, "I no longer want to trade with Spain," marking a significant escalation in tensions. This has led to Sanchez being viewed as a prominent 'anti-Trump' figure among European leaders.
However, it is unlikely that the two leaders will hold a formal meeting. A spokesperson for the Spanish government indicated that Sanchez's stay in the U.S. would be very brief, making an official bilateral meeting virtually impossible.
Following the final, Sanchez is scheduled to depart for Algeria, his next destination.
In contrast, Argentina's President Javier Milei has opted not to attend the match. In Argentina, there is a longstanding superstition that when the president attends a match, the national team loses. Therefore, Milei will watch the final from his residence via television.
Interestingly, Sanchez and Milei also share a contentious relationship. Despite Spain and Argentina being allies with cultural and historical ties, their leaders have previously engaged in heated exchanges that have led to diplomatic tensions.
In 2024, Milei publicly raised corruption allegations against Sanchez's wife, Begona Gomez, prompting the Spanish government to demand an official apology for what they deemed an insult to a head of state. Milei's refusal to apologize resulted in Spain withdrawing its ambassador to Argentina, cooling relations between the two countries for some time.
The upcoming World Cup final not only represents a competition for the championship between Spain and Argentina but also highlights the potential encounter between Trump and Sanchez, alongside Milei's decision to avoid the event due to superstition, drawing interest both inside and outside the stadium.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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