FIFA president Gianni Infantino announced Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump will be present to hand over the World Cup championship trophy at the final match, scheduled for July 19 at New York New Jersey Stadium.
Infantino, who leads the global governing body of soccer, has built a notably close relationship with the U.S. president. That relationship was on display in December when Infantino presented Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize — an award Infantino himself created — as Trump continued to seek out high-profile moments in the world of sports.
Speaking on the “Fox and Friends” television program, Infantino described the plan: “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together.”
FIFA declined to add anything beyond what Infantino said on television.
This won’t be Trump’s first time at the center of a major soccer moment. At the same East Rutherford, New Jersey, stadium last year, Trump presented the trophy to Club World Cup champions Chelsea, receiving a mix of cheers and boos from the crowd. He also stood among the players during their trophy celebration, a moment that left some players visibly puzzled.
Since then, Trump has made appearances at several other major sporting events in the greater New York area, including the U.S. Open men’s tennis final, the Ryder Cup golf competition, and the NBA Finals.
The World Cup is currently in progress, with games being played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. New York New Jersey Stadium is slated to host eight matches in total, including the championship final.
