Trump and Infantino watch the World Cup final together

The President of the United States, Donald Trump (Republican), and the president of Fifa, Gianni Infantinowatch the World Cup final match between the Argentina and Spain teams together in the same box. The game takes place at MetLife Stadium, in New Jersey (USA).

The 2 were directly involved in one of the most controversial moments of the 2026 World Cup: the annulment of the expulsion of striker from the US national team, Folarin Balogun. Trump called Infantino to handle the case. According to the director, the North American president asked for the red card to be reviewed, but was informed that the decision would be up to the entity’s independent judicial bodies.

Balogun was sent off in the North Americans’ victory over the Bosnian team, but had his suspension revoked on July 5 and was released to compete in the round of 16 of the World Cup.

Trump said he only asked for a review of the bid and denied having pressured FIFA. He also criticized Brazilian referee Raphael Claus, responsible for the expulsion.

TRUMP WILL AWARD TROPHY

The US president will present the 2026 World Cup champion trophy. The FIFA president must accompany the North American.

Trump and Infantino have already participated in an awards ceremony together in 2025. The two were at the closing of the 1st edition of the Club World Cup with 32 teams, held in the United States.

In the final, Chelsea beat PSG (Paris Saint-Germain) 3-0. Trump handed the cup to the captain of the English club, Reece James, and was booed by the public during the awards ceremony.

WORLD CUP

The World Cup is a private, profit-making sporting event. It is carried out every 4 years by Fifa. Teams qualify through knockouts. The technical committee and squad of each team competing in the competition are chosen by private entities.

In the case of Brazil, it is up to the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) to define who the coach is and which players are “called up” (in reality, everyone is invited and whoever is interested goes; as the commercial gain from marketing is great, the athletes respond to the “call up”). THE CBF It is an organization governed by private law and has no connection with the federal government.

The Brazilian government has no influence on choosing the team that participates in the tournament. In other words, it is not the country that is represented in the World Cup, but a football team chosen by a private entity.