United States President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino were greeted with boos from sections of the crowd during the trophy presentation ceremony following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The two officials walked onto the pitch after Spain’s 1-0 victory over defending champions Argentina to present medals and the FIFA World Cup trophy to the finalists. Their appearance was met with audible jeers from many spectators in attendance, while others applauded.
Trump attended the final alongside First Lady Melania Trump and other world leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Spain’s King Felipe VI. The U.S., Canada and Mexico jointly hosted the expanded 48-team tournament.
Following the match, Trump joined Infantino and other dignitaries in presenting medals to players from both Spain and Argentina before handing the World Cup trophy to Spain captain Rodri.
An awkward moment followed the presentation when Trump remained on the podium during Spain’s celebrations before Infantino appeared to usher him away, allowing the newly crowned champions to celebrate with the trophy. The incident quickly circulated on social media and became one of the talking points after the final.
Trump’s appearance at the final had attracted significant attention even before kickoff, making him the first sitting U.S. president to attend a men’s FIFA World Cup final hosted in the United States. His presence came amid heightened political interest surrounding the tournament and previous discussions over his relationship with FIFA and the sport’s global governing body.
The crowd’s reaction also reflected the mixed public reception that has accompanied several of Trump’s appearances at major sporting events in recent years.
Despite the off-field drama, Spain celebrated a historic triumph after defeating Argentina 1-0 to lift their second FIFA World Cup title. The victory capped a month-long tournament that featured the first-ever 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
While the trophy ceremony generated headlines for the reaction to Trump and Infantino, the focus ultimately returned to Spain’s achievement as the players celebrated their World Cup success before thousands of fans at the stadium.
