The 2026 World Cup final ceremony, held at the New York-New Jersey stadium, witnessed controversial moments as U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino were met with boos from the audience. Trump then attempted to stay with the Spanish national team players as they celebrated their victory.
According to The Guardian, Trump arrived at the stadium on the presidential helicopter "Marine One" about 45 minutes before the match kicked off, sitting next to Infantino in the main box, alongside Spanish King Felipe VI, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and several other sports and political figures.
During the match, Trump appeared on the giant screens inside the stadium after the American national anthem was played, where scattered boos were heard from the crowd. However, the reaction was more pronounced at the end of the match when Trump and Infantino stepped onto the pitch to participate in the trophy ceremony, as the boos from the stands noticeably increased.
According to the report, the noise level inside the stadium rose from around 78 to 84 decibels upon Trump's arrival at the trophy platform, indicating the crowd's reaction to his appearance.
After Spain's captain Rodri received the World Cup trophy, Trump tried to stand alongside the players as they celebrated lifting the cup, before Infantino intervened and asked him to step away quietly. This scene recalled the events of the 2025 Club World Cup final, when the American president attempted to stay with Chelsea players during their title celebrations.
Footage showed Trump presenting the silver medal to Argentina's captain Lionel Messi, who appeared emotional after the final loss to Spain.
Trump's presence comes amid his close relationship with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, which has stirred controversy during the tournament, especially after he contacted Infantino to request a review of the suspension of U.S. national team striker Folarin Balogun, a decision that FIFA later overturned, before the United States exited the tournament against Belgium in the Round of 16.
Spain concluded the tournament by being crowned world champions after defeating Argentina 1-0 in extra time, adding the World Cup to their historic achievements.
