US President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met face-to-face on Sunday at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final in New Jersey, marking a significant encounter after nearly two years of public tensions and failed attempts to improve diplomatic relations between their nations.
The two leaders were seated in the VIP section of MetLife Stadium, where Spain faced Argentina in the championship match. Also in attendance were Spain's King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Princesses Leonor and Sofía. Argentina's President Javier Milei, however, was notably absent from the VIP section, having stated earlier in the week that he would not travel to the final due to a superstition.
The brief meeting followed months of friction between Washington and Madrid, primarily centered on defence spending. Relations had shown signs of easing in recent weeks after President Trump acknowledged that Spain had “fully redeemed itself” by agreeing to a substantial increase in its NATO defence commitments at last month's summit in Ankara. This more conciliatory tone contrasted sharply with Trump's earlier remarks during the same summit, where he had described Spain as a “lost cause” and threatened trade retaliation, though he adopted a softer stance upon his return to Washington.
Despite the recent thaw, significant disagreements persist. The main source of tension remains Spain's defence spending, as the country has yet to commit to NATO's target of spending 5% of GDP on defence. This goal, championed by Washington, has been described by Prime Minister Sánchez as “unreasonable and counterproductive.” Sánchez has consistently maintained that Spain has “more than fulfilled its obligations” through its existing increases in defence spending.
Beyond defence, the relationship has also been strained by differing views on the war in Gaza, with Spain characterizing Israel's military campaign as a genocide, a description rejected by the United States. Tensions further deepened following the conflict between the United States and Iran, when Madrid invoked its bilateral defence agreement with Washington to prohibit the use of US military bases at Rota and Morón for operations linked to that conflict.
Hours before the World Cup final meeting, Prime Minister Sánchez used an interview with Spanish public broadcaster RTVE to congratulate President Trump on the 250th anniversary of the United States, which is being celebrated this week. When asked about the possibility of Trump presenting the World Cup trophy, Sánchez avoided speculation, stating, “What matters to me is not who presents it, but who receives it.” Meanwhile, speaking to Fox News before the match, President Trump referred to Argentina's absent President Milei as a “friend” and, regarding the final, commented, “It's hard to bet against Messi.”
