NEW YORK – President Donald Trump is scheduled to present the World Cup trophy to the winner of Sunday’s final match between Argentina and Spain. However, Trump believes that the true victor of this prestigious soccer tournament may very well be the United States itself.
“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump stated during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City on Friday. “This has really brought the world together.”
For the White House, Sunday’s match represents the culmination of over a year of navigating numerous logistical challenges in collaboration with co-hosts Canada and Mexico. The event is anticipated to be the biggest World Cup in history. This endeavor required balancing the Trump administration’s strict immigration policies, which prevented fans from certain World Cup qualifying countries from entering the United States.
Throughout the planning process, the White House faced criticism from human rights organizations, while the tournament itself encountered backlash over high ticket prices. In the months leading up to the tournament, Trump considered relocating games from cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities. Tensions escalated as local agencies clashed with FIFA regarding increased transit costs.
As the tournament approached, the administration found itself under international scrutiny for its visa policies. This included the denial of entry for a Somali referee recognized for his officiating skills. Furthermore, tensions heightened after Trump initiated hostilities with Iran, which complicated matters for the Iranian team whose supporters faced entry bans into the U.S., ultimately requiring them to base themselves in Tijuana, Mexico.
Despite these challenges, the narrative surrounding the World Cup shifted positively. Social media was abuzz with stories of soccer fans worldwide enjoying American culture, from beer to ranch dressing. Concerns regarding potential immigration enforcement raids during the tournament did not materialize, further easing tensions.
“One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job,” said Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, in an interview with The Associated Press. “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.”
Nonetheless, Trump stirred controversy with a recent phone call to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, in which he requested a review of a contentious referee decision during Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee’s decision to issue a red card to U.S. forward Folarin Balogun prevented him from participating in the following match against Belgium.
Trump defended his actions by stating he merely asked Infantino to reconsider the decision. Subsequently, FIFA overturned the call, allowing the U.S. team to retain a crucial player, despite ultimately losing to Belgium 4-1.
Giuliani emphasized that the administration had a “duty” to question and address concerns regarding the officiating process, which had drawn scrutiny due to the use of video review and slow-motion replays. He highlighted that the Trump administration allocated substantial federal funding to ensure the World Cup was a “safe and secure event, filled with integrity.”
The administration faced significant pressure to execute a successful World Cup, especially as the U.S. is set to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Additionally, the U.S. is anticipated to be awarded the 2031 Women’s World Cup. Giuliani mentioned that part of securing these hosting rights involves ensuring that only women will participate in the 2031 tournament, reflecting the Trump administration’s strong stance against transgender women competing in women’s sports.
Senator Andy Kim, a Democrat from New Jersey and a devoted World Cup enthusiast, noted that logistics for the tournament have largely proceeded smoothly, despite minor issues such as transit to the games.
“Overall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed” any negatives, Kim stated, reflecting on the games he has been watching with his two young sons over the past several weeks.
The U.S. also faced broader diplomatic tensions with its co-hosts, Canada and Mexico. Trump returned to the White House announcing steep tariffs on both nations and declined to renew a trade pact among the three countries, initiating a new round of negotiations.
On Friday, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Canada due to wildfires affecting air quality in parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey where the World Cup final is being held. He humorously suggested that FIFA should consider the U.S. for future World Cups, “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”
Despite these tensions, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney have confirmed their attendance at the final, responding to Trump’s invitation, showcasing the unifying power of soccer amid geopolitical discord.
“I received an invitation from President
