United States President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday.
“We look forward to the final match on Sunday, and I know the president looks forward to attending,” Leavitt said. “This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America’s ability to host the world on the grandest stage.”
FIFA president Gianni Infantino also confirmed that Trump is expected to join him in presenting the World Cup trophy to the winners at the Met Life Stadium in New Jersey.
“Yes, hopefully we’ll present the trophy together in the final,” Infantino told Swiss outlet Blue Sport. “That’s always been the plan, and that’s how it’s always been done in the past, the president of the country where the final is held presents the trophy together with the FIFA president.”
Trump was also present at the same venue last summer for the Club World Cup final, where he handed the trophy to champions Chelsea. His appearance, however, was met with loud boos from sections of the crowd at the East Rutherford, New Jersey stadium.
Although Trump has not attended a match at this World Cup, he has remained involved with the tournament. He has maintained a close relationship with Infantino and reportedly contacted the FIFA president over the controversial red-card suspension of USA forward Folarin Balogun ahead of their last-16 clash.
FIFA later overturned Balogun’s suspension, but the controversy surrounding the intervention added further drama around the US team, who were eventually eliminated after a disappointing defeat to Belgium.
