FIFA to break protocol by allowing Donald Trump to present World Cup trophy to the winning captain | OneFootball

United States President Donald Trump is expected to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19 and will take part in the trophy presentation ceremony following the match.

According to talkSPORT, Trump has been given permission to hand the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain, which will break traditional FIFA protocols.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that he and Trump will present the trophy together after the final.

The decision is likely to raise plenty of eyebrows, especially after Trump’s involvement in last year’s FIFA Club World Cup final. 

During that ceremony, he stayed back on stage alongside Chelsea captain Reece James as the trophy was lifted. That didn’t go down well with football fans around the world.

Even Chelsea star Cole Palmer looked visibly surprised while celebrations were going on around him.

FIFA’s trophy presentation usually follows a well-established format. 

The trophy is displayed on a pedestal before being carried by a member of the winning team onto the podium, where the captain completes the ceremonial lift. 

Trump’s direct involvement will be a massive shift to that protocol. The US president has not attended every match during the tournament. 

Scheduling commitments prevented him from being present at the United States’ opening victory against Paraguay and their later win over Australia. 

However, sources close to the White House have indicated that he could still make an appearance at a World Cup game before the final. 

The closing ceremony is also expected to include representatives from both Mexico and Canada. 

Fans around the world have enjoyed the World Cup, but that doesn’t take away the fact that the tournament has been shrouded in controversy.

Supporters have voiced concerns about the cost of tickets and stadium refreshments, while debate has continued over FIFA’s expanded tournament format. 

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin is among the prominent figures who have questioned whether the increase in participating teams has affected the competition.

FIFA have also been criticised for failing to intervene after Somalian referee Omar Artan was denied entry into the US to officiate in the World Cup.