FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that U.S. President Donald Trump will present the World Cup trophy to the winning team at the final scheduled for July 19 at the New York New Jersey Stadium. This ceremony will mark a prominent role for Trump in the tournament’s conclusion, continuing a pattern established during last year’s Club World Cup final in the United States, where Trump presented the trophy to Chelsea.
Infantino, speaking ahead of the final, emphasized the close relationship he maintains with Trump, stating that they will be "together all the time" during the presentation. He also highlighted that Trump will enjoy the final match and jointly hand over the trophy to the champions. The decision mirrors previous World Cup traditions where political leaders from host countries partake in the trophy handover, such as the Emir of Qatar’s involvement in the 2022 final.
Despite the announcement, Trump’s participation has drawn criticism and legal scrutiny. The Norwegian Football Association (FA) filed an ethics complaint against Infantino, accusing him of breaching FIFA’s political neutrality rules by involving Trump in the ceremony and by awarding him a newly established FIFA peace prize. The Norwegian FA president, Lise Klaveness, argued that FIFA’s role should remain apolitical and expressed the view that the peace prize was inappropriate and outside FIFA’s mandate, suggesting organizations like the Nobel Institute as more suitable entities to confer such honors.
The peace prize, created in late 2025 and awarded to Trump in connection with the tournament, has sparked controversy amid ongoing geopolitical tensions, including the U.S. military presence in the Middle East. Klaveness called for the prize's abolition, citing concerns about maintaining the organization’s neutrality.
Infantino has not publicly addressed the ethics complaint but reiterated his firm stance on keeping Trump involved in the event’s concluding ceremony. While Trump has yet to attend any games during the tournament, the plan remains for him to be part of the trophy presentation alongside the captains of the winning team.
Other political figures from the co-host nations, Canada and Mexico, are expected to be invited to the closing ceremony, though only Trump is slated to participate directly in handing over the trophy. The decision has also drawn attention due to Trump’s behavior at the 2025 Club World Cup final, where he lingered on the winners’ podium after presenting the trophy, an act that surprised players and observers alike.
As the World Cup approaches its final stage, the controversy surrounding Trump’s involvement in the ceremony highlights ongoing debates about the intersection of sports, politics, and governance in global sporting events.