The final of the ongoing FIFA World Cup on July 19 will see a break from the past with Donald Trump, president of the US, one of the co-hosts of the tournament, presenting the winners’ trophy. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who will also be present at the award ceremony after the title clash at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on D-Day, has confirmed this.
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In the two World Cup editions held so far after Infantino took over in February 2026, he himself presented the trophy. They were in Russia in 2018 and Qatar in 2022. However, the heads of the government of the two organising nations — Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Russian President Vladimir Putin — were present on the occasion.
Speaking to Fox & Friendsthe FIFA chief said Trump will be present at the final and jointly handing the trophy to the winning team.
“We are together all the time,” he was quoted as saying.
Trump joined Chelsea celebrations after giving trophy in 2025
It would not be the first time that Trump will present the trophy on a major platform. In July 2025, he presented the FIFA Club World Cup to English club Chelsea after they defeated France’s Paris Saint-Germain at the same stadium in New Jersey. However, he did not exit the stage after handing the trophy over and joined the celebrations himself despite Infantino’s polite attempt to convince him to move away. The players looked bemused.
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While Infantino and his predecessor Sepp Blatter have handed over the World Cup trophies themselves, heads of state featuring in the award ceremony after the final in the coveted tournament is not unprecedented.
Heads of state handed over WC trophy in 1966, 1982
In 1966, Queen Elizabeth II handed over the trophy to England captain Bobby Moore after he led the Three Lions to their only title win to date. In 1982, Spain’s King Juan Carlos gave the winning trophy to Italy captain Dino Zoff.
The 2026 edition is also being hosted by Canada and Mexico. However, the football’s world body has yet to announce any plan for the heads of state of those two countries — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum — to join the ceremony on July 19.
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