FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that United States president Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final and help present the trophy to the winners.
Trump, 80, has not yet attended a single match during the tournament, which got underway on 11 June across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The final is scheduled for 19 July at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where Trump is expected to take centre stage alongside Infantino.
Infantino, who is described as a close friend of Trump, made the announcement during an interview with Fox, leaving little doubt about the president’s involvement in the ceremony.
“We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino said, confirming the joint appearance.
When pressed on whether the two men would make the presentation together, Infantino was unequivocal, responding: “Of course, we are together all the time.”
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House’s World Cup task force, has explained Trump’s absence from matches so far, suggesting the president likes to “leave people watching” and has been constrained by a busy schedule.
The United States is hosting 78 of the 104 matches at the tournament, making it by far the largest host nation across the three participating countries.
Trump’s appetite for high-profile sporting appearances has been evident in recent weeks, with the president attending the NBA Finals in New York, becoming the first sitting US president to do so.
He watched game three of the series, which saw the eventual champions the New York Knicks lose 111-115 to the San Antonio Spurs, though his presence was met with boos from the crowd.
Trump’s relationship with trophy ceremonies at MetLife Stadium is not without precedent, having handed the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James at the same venue last summer.
That occasion drew attention when Trump remained on the winners’ podium longer than players had anticipated, catching some of those involved off guard.
“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” James said at the time.
With the World Cup final now just weeks away, all eyes will be on MetLife Stadium to see how the joint presentation between Trump and Infantino unfolds on the global stage.
