Donald Trump to be scrutinised at Spain v Argentina World Cup final | OneFootball

Donald Trump will be under the spotlight at the Spain v Argentina World Cup final near New York, his first match of the tournament. He is due to present the trophy alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

According to Le Progres, he largely kept away from games but stirred controversy after confirming he phoned Infantino to overturn Folarin Balogun’s red card for the United States. The striker then faced Belgium in the last 16, a tie the Red Devils won 4-1.

Despite a wave of criticism over competitive fairness, Trump later hailed the 2026 tournament as perhaps the most successful sporting event in history. Speaking at a Fifa reception at Trump Tower on Friday, he said it had boosted soccer’s popularity in the United States and that he believes the momentum will last.

Melania Trump is expected beside him. Argentina’s president Javier Milei has stayed away for superstition, while Spain’s prime minister Pedro Sanchez and the royal family will attend despite Trump’s criticism of Madrid over its lack of support in the war against Iran. Co-host leaders Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico and Canada’s Mark Carney are also due.

Trump has threatened new tariffs on Canada, accusing deliberate negligence over wildfires that blanketed parts of the neighbouring United States and raised air quality concerns for the open-air final. Ties with Mexico also remain tense over immigration enforcement and his threats of military action against drug traffickers. The three leaders last met at the World Cup draw in Washington in December.

His arrival from his New Jersey golf course will be tightly secured, with a no-fly zone over the venue. The octogenarian, who briefly played football when young, has criticised the United Kingdom team’s tactics in their semi-final defeat to Argentina and Thomas Tuchel’s defensive approach. Last year, after handing over the new Club World Cup trophy at the same stadium to Chelsea, his presence on stage as players danced raised eyebrows. He has also joked about a future World Cup with China, saying Mexico and Canada would be left out.

Source: Le Progres