Trump hands World Cup trophy to Spanish team after 1-0 extra-time win over Argentina

PoliticsPresident Donald Trump is pictured as confetti falls at the conclusion of the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinPresident Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino jointly awarded the World Cup trophy to the Spanish national men’s team after a hard-fought final on Sunday afternoon. Spain won the final game 1-0 after a month-long tournament that gripped sports fans across the globe. The victory marked Spain’s second World Cup title after they won their first one in 2010. The final ended in extra time, shortly after Spanish player Ferran Torres scored the only goal of the game in the 106th minute. NJ.com reported that Trump was loudly booed as he walked onto the field for the award ceremony about 26 minutes after the game concluded.Trump and Infantino placed the World Cup gold medals around Spanish team players. He also shook hands with Spanish players Pau Cubarsi, Unai Simon and Rodri as they accepted their individual awards.Trump also shook hands and placed the silver medal around Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi and his teammates’ heads. Later, Trump and Infantino jointly handed the trophy to the Spanish team. In a somewhat awkward moment, Trump stood as the Spanish team began to lift their trophy before Infantino led him away.Spain players, from left, cheer alongside President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the conclusion of the World Cup championship final soccer match between Spain and Argentina in East Rutherford, N.J., Sunday, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)AP Photo/Jacquelyn MartinTrump became the first U.S. president to attend a men’s World Cup final on Sunday, and therefore the first to present the winning team with the trophy. Trump was spotted in a VIP suite alongside first lady Melania Trump, his sons Eric and Barron Trump, multiple administration officials, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Trump was sitting next to Infantino in the suite. Trump’s suite also included King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain as well as Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Trump had not disclosed which team he was rooting for ahead of Sunday’s match, but said it was “hard to bet against Messi.” He has long championed the U.S. hosting the World Cup as a victory for him and his administration. However, many critics said Trump cast a stain on the tournament after he called Infantino over a red card suspension dealt to U.S. men’s soccer star Folarin Balogun. He reportedly asked FIFA to review the suspension of U.S. men’s national team striker Balogun. Balogun was ultimately allowed to play, but the U.S. men’s national team still lost to Belgium. Trump defended his decision to ask FIFA to review the play. Trump argued that banning one of the team’s top players from a crucial World Cup match would have been unfair, comparing the situation to sidelining global stars like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo or Harry Kane over a minor collision. He praised FIFA’s decision to overturn the suspension, blasted the referee’s original call as “horrible,” said he was shocked by the power a red card carries once he learned its consequences, and suggested the referee’s past record raised concerns. Staff writer Manny Gomez contributed to this report. Lauren Sforza is a trending national politics writer for NJ.com.