Criticism Erupts Over Donald Trump’s Possible Trophy Presentation at World Cup Final
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has indicated that US President Donald Trump might participate in the World Cup final and present the trophy to the winner. The close ties between FIFA and Trump have raised questions about the concept of political neutrality in sports, with analysts and former officials citing this as a serious violation of the governing code of conduct. The US State Department has unveiled a strategy to leverage the 2026 World Cup and the Olympics as instruments of soft power to extend its diplomatic influence.
June 28, Kathmandu – FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced that US President Donald Trump is expected to take part in the World Cup final and hand over the trophy to the champions. Trump has not attended any matches of this World Cup to date. According to reports, he is likely to be present on the field at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey before the final match on July 19.
The FIFA World Cup 2026, which began on June 11, is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. In an interview with Fox News, Infantino stated, “We will enjoy the final match together with the president and present the trophy to the winner.” When asked if Trump would join him in presenting the trophy, he added, “Absolutely, we are always together.”
Out of the 104 matches in this tournament, 78 are being held in the United States, with the remainder hosted in Mexico and Canada. Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House World Cup task force, told The Telegraph that Trump “enjoys keeping people curious,” noting that his busy schedule has so far prevented him from attending any games.
Last week, Trump attended a UFC event at the White House. Recently, he became the first US president to attend an NBA final game, which was met with boos from the crowd. The third game he watched saw the San Antonio Spurs defeat the New York Knicks 115-111.
Last summer, Trump sat on the winners’ podium at MetLife Stadium during the Club World Cup trophy presentation to Chelsea captain Reece James. His conduct reportedly puzzled some of the athletes present. Whether in the context of the Iran conflict or his public life criticisms, Trump has demonstrated a preference for hard power over soft power diplomatically, yet has displayed his ‘MAGA’ agenda through sports, indicating a use of sports as a tool of soft power.
Trump’s World Cup agenda has given a new direction to US foreign policy. Political analysts from Politico suggest that “the US State Department might as well be called the ‘Sports Department’ at this point.” Official documents and interviews with department officials reveal that the World Cup is considered a significant diplomatic opportunity. These documents include a ‘Sports Diplomacy Playbook’ detailing plans to boost America’s soft power and foreign investment through major events like the World Cup and Olympics, as well as to advance certain social policies aligned with Trump’s agenda.
In December, State Department staff were given a nine-page ‘Sports Diplomacy Playbook’ outlining how to capitalize on the ‘decade of sports,’ which includes the 2026 World Cup and the 2028 and 2034 Olympic Games being hosted on American soil.
Since the first term in 2016, Trump has cultivated a close relationship with FIFA. That era coincided with FIFA’s largest corruption scandal in history, where senior football officials were arrested on allegations of accepting over $200 million in bribes. After Sepp Blatter resigned amidst the crisis, Infantino took over as FIFA President. The FBI regarded FIFA as a model international criminal enterprise, and Trump reportedly played a key role in securing the 2026 World Cup hosting rights through behind-the-scenes agreements. Trump openly stated that hearing the word ‘World Cup’ prompted him to join the campaign.
Both the World Cup and Trump himself have become subjects of widespread debate and criticism. This move, seen as contrary to FIFA’s established history and principles of neutrality, has provoked dissatisfaction among sports analysts, journalists, and players worldwide. Sports experts categorize this as a breach of FIFA’s political neutrality rules and a gesture of submission to political power.
Renowned sports historian and football analyst David Goldblatt criticized Infantino’s attempt to appease the US president, telling The New York Times, “Infantino understands well how to control a whimsical, self-centered, and vindictive leader. He believes such leaders can be influenced by a mix of spectacle and flattery.”
Former chairman of FIFA’s Governance Committee, Miguel Maduro, also noted a crisis in FIFA’s internal independence and neutral image. Maduro stated, “The FIFA leadership seems to have lost the pressure to maintain the institution’s impartial image.” Previously, Maduro had openly criticized actions by Trump and Infantino. He labeled Infantino’s conduct a clear violation of Article 15 of FIFA’s code of ethics, which instructs FIFA and its officials to remain completely neutral on political matters.