President Donald Trump is poised to present the World Cup trophy to the victorious team following Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain. For Trump, however, the United States has already emerged as the true winner of soccer's premier tournament.
Speaking at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday, July 17, 2026, Trump asserted, “It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain. This has really brought the world together.” FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed this sentiment, declaring the World Cup a success and commending President Trump for his role in the event, stating it had fulfilled its mission of uniting people globally.
The White House navigated over a year of complex logistical challenges alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico to stage what was anticipated to be the largest World Cup in history. This included balancing the Trump administration’s stringent migration policies, which prevented fans from certain World Cup qualifier countries from entering the United States.
The administration faced warnings from human rights groups and encountered backlash over high ticket prices. For months, Trump considered relocating games from cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. In the weeks leading up to the tournament, local authorities clashed with FIFA over elevated transit costs, further escalating tensions. As the initial games commenced, the administration remained under global scrutiny for its visa decisions, notably denying entry to a Somali referee who had received accolades for his officiating. Pressure intensified after Trump initiated a war with Iran, forcing the administration to contend with an Iranian team whose fans and some support staff were barred from the U.S., ultimately leading the team to be based across the border in Tijuana.
Despite these initial hurdles, the broader narrative of the World Cup eventually shifted. Social media became inundated with stories of soccer fans worldwide enjoying American customs and treats, from beer to ranch dressing. Pre-tournament fears regarding the Trump administration, such as the threat of immigration enforcement raids near game venues, ultimately did not materialize. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, remarked in an interview, “One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job. But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”
However, Trump did spark controversy earlier this month with a phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, requesting a review of a contentious referee call during Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The incident involved a red card issued to U.S. star forward Folarin Balogun, which would have sidelined him for the subsequent match against Belgium. Trump stated he merely asked Infantino, who has been criticized for his close relationship with the U.S. president, to review the decision. FIFA subsequently reversed the call, prompting Trump to tell Infantino at the Friday reception, “you made another great decision, if you think about it,” as it allowed the U.S. to retain a key player, despite the team ultimately losing to Belgium 4-1.
Giuliani defended the administration, stating it had a “duty” to raise concerns about the officiating process, which drew scrutiny due to the use of video review and slow-motion replay for the red card. He also highlighted the Trump administration's investment of billions in federal funding to ensure the World Cup was “not just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.” The administration faced considerable pressure to deliver a successful tournament, particularly as the U.S. is slated to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
The U.S. is also widely expected to be awarded the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Giuliani noted in the interview that a condition for securing these hosting duties would be “ensuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women’s World Cup,” a clear reference to the Trump administration’s strong opposition to transgender women participating in women’s sports.
Sen. Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey and a self-professed World Cup superfan whose home state is hosting Sunday’s final, observed that the tournament’s logistics had proceeded mostly smoothly, with only minor issues such as transit to the games. Kim, who has been avidly watching the games with his two young sons, concluded that “overall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed” any downsides.
The U.S. also navigated broader tensions with its World Cup co-hosts, Canada and Mexico. Upon his return to the White House, Trump imposed stiff tariffs on both nations and opted not to renew a trade pact among the three countries, initiating a new period of negotiations. On Friday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada over its wildfires, which have affected air quality in parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey where the World Cup final is being held. He jokingly suggested on Friday that FIFA should soon again choose the U.S. for the World Cup, adding, “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”
Despite these geopolitical strains, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney are scheduled to attend the final at Trump’s invitation, signaling that soccer can bridge some political divides. Sheinbaum stated, “I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to go because it’s a direct invitation from the President of the United States. Prime Minister Carney will also be there.” Trump, as is customary for heads of state hosting the tournament, will present the trophy to the eventual winner. He has not publicly indicated a preferred team. Spain is considered an irritant to Trump due to its reluctance to meet NATO defense spending targets and its refusal to permit the U.S. to launch strikes against Iran from its bases. Conversely, Argentine President Javier Milei is a favored figure of the Trump administration, with the U.S. president having previously threatened to cut aid to Argentina if Milei’s coalition did not succeed in legislative elections. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to attend the game, while Milei, citing superstition, will remain at home.
