Donald Trump to attend World Cup final on Sunday, confirm White House

[p][b]"His attendance will cap what has been the most watched, most secure, and most successful World Cup in American history," [/b]Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told a briefing on Thursday.[/p][p][b]"This is a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America's ability to host the world on the grandest stage."[/b][/p][p]The US leader will also attend a reception for football's world governing body FIFA at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, Leavitt said.[/p][p]FIFA President Gianni Infantino had announced in June that Trump would attend [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/argentina-f9OppQjp/spain-bLyo6mco/summary/stats/?mid=UgbUKPmT"]the final in New Jersey[/a] and present the trophy to the winners, but it had not been confirmed by the White House.[/p][p]Leavitt said she did not know whether Trump would be supporting [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/argentina/f9OppQjp/"]Argentina[/a] or [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/spain/bLyo6mco/"]Spain[/a], after he criticised the European nation at a NATO summit last week for failing to help with the Iran war.[/p][embed guid="52a2f38e-d59f-42a4-926c-63b7e479dc70" url="https://x.com/Flashscorecom/status/2077665377547358276" social-type="twitter" /][p]While Trump has not attended any World Cup games so far, he has been involved in the tournament in a more controversial way.[/p][p]Trump confirmed earlier this month that he asked FIFA's Infantino to review a decision to hand a red card to star US striker [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/balgun-folarin/rVZLmUsU/"]Folarin Balogun[/a] during a game against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/bosnia-herzegovina/fqe7WYTr/"]Bosnia[/a].[/p][p]FIFA suspended Balogun's one-game ban ahead of the Americans' next match, against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/belgium/GbB957na/"]Belgium[/a]. Despite Balogun's presence on the field, the hosts were embarrassed in a 4-1 blowout.[/p][p]Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for securing the [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/usa/fuitL4CF/"]United States[/a] the right to co-host the 2026 World Cup along with [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/canada/x4toKORL/"]Canada[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/mexico/O6iHcNkd/"]Mexico[/a], a decision made by FIFA in his first term.[/p][p]Infantino has meanwhile cultivated a close relationship with Trump, awarding him with a newly created FIFA peace prize at the World Cup draw in Washington last year, months before the US launched military action against Venezuela and Iran.[/p][p]Letting Trump present the World Cup trophy follows controversy surrounding the presentation of the Club World Cup to English club [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/chelsea/4fGZN2oK/"]Chelsea[/a] after their victory over [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/psg/CjhkPw0k/"]Paris Saint-Germain[/a] at the same stadium in New Jersey last year.[/p][p]Trump handed the trophy to Chelsea captain [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/james-reece/nLBC7ERa/"]Reece James[/a], but then failed to leave the stage, meaning he initially took part in the team's celebrations alongside bemused players.[/p][p]He later kept a replica of the trophy in his office.[/p][infobox id="26ec99f9-a02b-4f65-8fba-1965818547a7" /]