U.S. President Donald Trump drew attention at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday after remaining on the presentation stage as Spain celebrated their 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina and lifted the trophy.
Trump, who presented medals alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, briefly stayed on the podium as the Spanish players celebrated their triumph, even performing a short version of his trademark dance before eventually leaving the stage.
The U.S. leader arrived at MetLife Stadium aboard Marine One to watch the final alongside First Lady Melania Trump and Infantino. He stood during the U.S. national anthem before taking his seat for the match.
Although he had predicted before kick-off that Lionel Messi’s Argentina would prevail, Trump acknowledged after the game that Spain deserved the victory.
Trump also disclosed that he spoke with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during the event about wildfires in Canada that sent smoke across parts of the U.S. Northeast, briefly raising concerns over the final. He joked that Canada “should pay us some damages or something, or we should do some tariffs.”
The president said he also held discussions with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, insisting relations remained positive despite recent disagreements over NATO spending and Spain’s position on the Iran conflict.
Sunday’s final marked Trump’s first appearance at a FIFA World Cup match. Throughout the tournament, he repeatedly praised the competition, describing it as “the most successful sporting event maybe in the history of the world.”
Trump has maintained a close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino since returning to office in January 2025 and has frequently linked his administration to the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The World Cup, however, was not without controversy, as Trump’s immigration policies led to visa difficulties for some travelling supporters during the tournament.
Trump also attracted attention during last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final when he remained on the podium as Chelsea celebrated lifting the trophy, a moment that generated widespread discussion.
