Trump hangs around after event to bask in the glory of the World Cup attention

US President Donald Trump made a notable appearance at the World Cup final on Sunday, joining winners Spain on stage as they celebrated their victory over Argentina with the trophy. Trump's presence was met with boos from the crowd as he walked onto the pitch alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

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Despite the initial negative reaction, Trump seemed to revel in the attention, having previously described the tournament as "the most successful sporting event maybe in the history of the world". As the Spanish team lifted the trophy, Trump briefly lingered on stage, even breaking into a brief rendition of his signature "Trump dance" in front of the players.

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Trump had arrived at the New York-New Jersey stadium via his Marine One helicopter to watch the final match between Spain and Argentina. During the game, he was seated next to Infantino and First Lady Melania Trump, and stood to salute during the US national anthem.

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Prior to the match, Trump had expressed his opinion that Argentine superstar Lionel Messi would give his team an edge, and also discussed his personal connection with Argentina's right-wing President Javier Milei. However, after the game, Trump stated that he "wasn't sad" about Argentina's loss, saying "I would say Spain played better, really".

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The World Cup final also provided an opportunity for Trump to engage in some diplomatic discussions, including a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney about the wildfires that have been affecting the US northeast. Trump suggested that Canada should consider paying damages or facing tariffs due to the smoke from the wildfires.

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Trump also spoke with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, downplaying any tension between their countries despite recently criticizing Madrid's handling of the Iran war and its NATO spending commitments. Trump co-presented the trophy to Spain alongside Infantino, marking his first attendance at a World Cup fixture.

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Although this was Trump's first time attending a World Cup match, it was not his first involvement in the tournament, having previously sparked controversy by phoning Infantino to request that a red card against USA striker Folarin Balogun be suspended. Despite this, Trump has consistently praised the 2026 tournament, describing it as "the most successful sporting event maybe in the history of the world".

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At a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Trump reiterated his enthusiasm for the tournament, saying "It's been amazing". He also highlighted the positive impact of the 104 games on the popularity of soccer in the United States, stating "It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it's going to remain".

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Trump's son Barron, 20, is reportedly a huge fan of soccer, and the president has sought to associate his political brand with the World Cup since returning to the Oval Office in January 2025. However, the lead-up to the tournament was not without its challenges, including issues with Trump's immigration policies that affected some fans' ability to attend.

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A similar incident occurred at the FIFA Club World Cup championship at the same New Jersey stadium last year, where Trump stayed on the podium with winners Chelsea as they celebrated, and later claimed to have been allowed to keep the trophy itself in the Oval Office – a claim disputed by FIFA, who stated that the version on display was actually a replica.