Despite being widely expected to feature prominently, Donald Trump has not attended a single World Cup match during the tournament hosted by the United States.
The US team has won two of their three group games and qualified for the knockout stages, yet the president has remained absent from the stands throughout.
It marks a notable contrast with 1994, when president Bill Clinton attended the opening match at Soldier Field in Chicago, welcoming the world to the first World Cup held on American soil.
Clinton declared: “My fellow Americans, citizens of the world, the United States is honoured to play host to this magnificent celebration.”
Thirty-two years on, with the halfway point of the tournament now passed, the current president has taken a strikingly different approach to the occasion.
Trump had seemed deeply enthusiastic in the build-up, referencing the tournament at a rally on the eve of his presidential inauguration, and playing a central role at the draw in Washington DC in December.
At that draw, Fifa president Gianni Infantino awarded Trump the governing body’s inaugural Peace Prize, reflecting the close relationship the two men have developed in recent years.
When the US played their opening match against Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles, Trump was absent, with secretary of state Marco Rubio travelling from Washington in his place.
The president appeared to prioritise a UFC event on the White House lawn two days later, which also celebrated his 80th birthday and America’s 250th anniversary.
Political strategist Federico de Jesus, who served as a media director for former president Barack Obama, said Trump’s absence is “not out of character”, noting his tendency to focus on the biggest occasions rather than regular fixtures.
“UFC is the sport Trump has cultivated, and with which he has a special relationship,” de Jesus told the BBC, adding that Trump is likely saving himself for the final.
“Also, look at when he has attended other sports events. He went to the Super Bowl, not regular season games. It’s the main event – the World Cup final – where the ratings will be. Expect the same again.”
De Jesus also believes Trump may be “wary” after being booed when he became the first US president to attend the NBA Finals in New York earlier this month, particularly given the international crowds at World Cup venues.
Los Angeles and Seattle, which hosted two of the US group games, are both strongly Democrat cities where the reception for Trump could have been unwelcoming given controversies surrounding his administration’s policies.
Infantino has confirmed the intention is for Trump to attend the final in New Jersey on 19 July and to present the trophy, and the president has confirmed he has been asked to do so.
Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup Task Force, hinted that Trump may appear before the final, saying: “He likes a cliffhanger. He likes to keep you on the edge of your seat.”
“So, all I would just tell people is, tune in, and we’ll see some surprises, I’m sure,” Giuliani added, fuelling speculation about an earlier appearance.
Trump’s schedule has also been genuinely demanding, with a G7 summit in France running from 15 to 17 June and negotiations over an Iran peace deal announced on 18 June keeping him occupied around the time of the opening game.
Fifa is said to be grateful for support from the US administration, with senior cabinet figures including Markwayne Mullin, Robert F Kennedy and Sean Duffy all attending matches during the group stage.
Given Trump’s well-documented appetite for spectacle and global exposure, few would be surprised if he makes an appearance at the World Cup well before the final whistle of the tournament.
