Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will attend Sunday’s World Cup final between Spain and Argentina in New Jersey, his government confirmed on Friday, setting up an uncomfortable encounter with United States President Donald Trump, who is also expected to be present.
Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their two daughters will also attend, the royal palace confirmed. Argentine President Javier Milei, however, will not be watching from the stands, with his office citing superstition as the reason for his absence.
The occasion carries diplomatic undertones. Sanchez and Trump have a well-documented history of tension, stemming from Spain’s refusal to allow the US military use of its bases during the war in Iran, as well as Sanchez’s public criticism of the American operation that removed Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro from power. At a NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month, Trump labelled Spain a “terrible partner” within the alliance and said the United States no longer wished to pursue trade with the country.
Sanchez moved to play down the friction ahead of the final, telling reporters after the summit that bilateral relations remained positive. He revealed the two leaders had shared an informal conversation about football on the sidelines and insisted there had been no tension whatsoever between them.
After the match, Sanchez is scheduled to travel to Algeria for an official state visit.
