Donald Trump, the President of the United States, faced criticism for joining Spain's trophy ceremony at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
On July 19, local time, Trump attended the match between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Spain won the championship, defeating Argentina 1-0 after extra time. Following the match, Trump participated in the awards ceremony, presenting medals to the referees and players before handing the trophy to Spain's captain, Rodri, who was also named the Golden Ball winner.
The controversy arose after Trump remained on stage as the players prepared for their victory celebration. He moved to the edge of the stage and raised the trophy alongside the players. FIFA President Gianni Infantino approached Trump, seemingly attempting to guide him off stage, but Trump stayed until the moment the Spanish players lifted the trophy.
The Daily Beast criticized Trump for trying to make the moment about himself rather than allowing the team to celebrate their victory.
The atmosphere in the stadium was not welcoming. As Trump appeared on the field alongside Infantino, he was met with loud boos from the crowd. According to the Independent, the noise level in the stadium, typically around 78 decibels, rose to 84 decibels after Trump's entrance. The crowd also booed when Trump's image appeared on the scoreboard before the match, prompting a quick switch to a view of the field.
This is not the first time Trump has stirred controversy by joining a FIFA trophy ceremony. Last year, during the FIFA Club World Cup final at the same venue, he participated in the trophy celebration after Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain, standing next to captain Reece James.
On this occasion, Trump watched the match from a glass-enclosed VIP box with his wife, Melania Trump, their son Barron Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum were also in attendance.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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