Will Trump attend the World Cup final? President Donald Trump is set to present the World Cup trophy to the winner of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain. He said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City that the tournament had changed how the United States is seen.
“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump said. He also said, “This has really brought the world together.”
Trump Tower in New York City
Trump’s appearance at the reception came after well over a year in which the White House navigated logistical challenges with Canada and Mexico for the World Cup. The tournament also drew scrutiny over migration policy, visa decisions and ticket prices, placing the final at the center of a long-running political and administrative process.
The administration’s hard-line migration policies barred fans from some World Cup qualifier countries from entry into the United States. For months, Trump flirted with moving games out of cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, while local authorities sparred with FIFA over high transit costs in the weeks before the tournament started.
FIFA and White House
The tension around the tournament extended beyond travel and stadium logistics. The administration faced global scrutiny over visa decisions, including denying entry to a referee from Somalia who had won accolades for officiating, and it had to deal with an Iranian team whose fans and some supporting personnel were barred from the United States.
Trump launched a war with Iran during the tournament period, and the Iranian team was ultimately based across the border in Tijuana. Social media was also flooded with tales of fans from around the world enjoying U.S. treats and traditions such as beer and ranch dressing, and some fears about immigration enforcement raids near the games never materialized.
Folarin Balogun and Belgium
Trump also intervened earlier this month in a separate World Cup moment involving Team USA. He called Gianni Infantino to ask for a review of a controversial referee call in Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after the referee gave a red card to Folarin Balogun.
That call meant Balogun would not have been able to play in the next match against Belgium. FIFA reversed the call after Trump’s request to Infantino, and Trump later told him at Friday’s reception, “you made another great decision, if you think about it.” The United States went on to lose to Belgium 4-1 after the red card reversal allowed Balogun to stay on the field.
Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said, “if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job.” He added, “But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”
