US President Donald Trump is set to make an appearance at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final in New Jersey on July 19, where he will share the honor of presenting the trophy to the winning captain with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. This will be a notable moment, as Trump, the 47th President of the United States, hasn’t attended any matches during the tournament so far. FIFA has officially confirmed his attendance for this highly anticipated match, marking a shift from the previous two World Cups in Qatar (2022) and Russia (2018), where only the FIFA president handed out the coveted trophy to the champions.
Gianni Infantino confirmed about the meeting as he said, “We will be together with the president, enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.”
This decision follows the buzz created during the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final at the same New Jersey venue, where Trump presented the trophy to Chelsea after their win over UEFA Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He stayed on the podium during Chelsea’s celebration, which caught a lot of attention, especially as players, including captain Reece James, seemed a bit taken aback by his presence in that moment.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Enters Knockout Stage After 16 Days of Drama and Standout Performances
The FIFA World Cup has wrapped up its thrilling 16-day group stage across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, paving the way for the inaugural 32-team knockout phase. Germany made headlines with an impressive 7-1 victory over Curaçao, while France showcased their talent by defeating Norway 4-1, thanks to Ousmane Dembélé’s stunning first-half hat-trick. In a nail-biter, Türkiye pulled off a surprise by edging out the hosts, the United States, with a 3-2 win in one of the tournament’s most exciting matches.
The biggest shock came when Ecuador rallied to beat Germany 2-1, with Gonzalo Plata scoring a late winner. Curaçao then made history by securing a 0-0 draw against Ecuador after their rough start, where they conceded seven goals. Their defensive performance became one of the tournament’s most talked-about stories.
Lionel Messi is currently leading the Golden Boot race with five goals in just two matches, including a hat-trick against Algeria. Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Vinícius Júnior are all close behind with four goals each. Curaçao’s goalkeeper, Eloy Room, delivered an incredible 15-save clean sheet against Ecuador, while the 40-year-old Vozinha played a crucial role in helping Cape Verde reach the knockout stage with a clean sheet against Spain. Spain and Mexico are the only teams yet to concede a goal in the tournament, while Germany, France, and the Netherlands have impressed with their passing and overall control.
Now, all eyes are on the Round of 32, kicking off on June 28. South Africa will take on Canada in the opening knockout match. Brazil is set to face Japan in Houston, the Netherlands will battle Morocco in Monterrey, France will go up against Sweden in New Jersey, and Argentina will meet Cape Verde in Miami. With a mix of title contenders and surprise teams still in the running, the tournament is gearing up for an exciting climax ahead of the final on July 19, where Trump and Infantino are expected to present the World Cup trophy together.
