EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — U.S. President Donald Trump helped FIFA President Gianni Infantino hand out awards following Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina at the World Cup final Sunday.
But this time, Infantino successfully kept Trump just outside the mob of La Roja players as they lifted the FIFA World Cup Trophy in celebration of their nation’s second title.
About 25 minutes after the match, Infantino, Trump and other officials emerged from the tunnel in the southeast corner of New York New Jersey Stadium and climbed the on-field stage constructed for the occasion.
Trump, who had watched the match in a luxury box with Infantino and other officials, was met with boos from the stands, but those ceased when the medal ceremony began.
Standing directly next to Infantino, Trump assisted in handing medals first to the second-place Argentine side and then to the Spanish winners.
As Spain’s squad then prepared to hoist the trophy, Trump remained on stage, but Infantino eventually jogged in his direction and beckoned him toward the stairs on the right side of the platform.
It was in contrast to last year’s final at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, when Trump remained in a mob of celebrating Chelsea players following their 3-0 triumph over Paris Saint-Germain.
The final was the only World Cup match attended by Trump, who had been more visible last fall in the buildup to the tournament, including when he was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize by Infantino at the World Cup draw last December.
That was in stark contrast to Infantino, who attended multiple matches per day during the early stages of the 104-game tournament contested by a 48-team field.
Spain won the tournament after Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to ensure his team’s dominant performance was rewarded. It was a similar triumph to their first in a World Cup final, a 1-0 win in extra time against the Netherlands in 2010 decided by Andres Iniesta’s 116th-minute winner.
–Ian Nicholas Quillen, Field Level Media
