The FIFA World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, is set to draw significant political and royal attendance, with Spain‘s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and King Felipe VI expected to be present. This high-level representation underscores the importance of the event for Spanish football as the team seeks its second World Cup title against Argentina.
Sánchez’s office confirmed his travel to the United States for the final, where the European champions will compete against the Argentina team, led by Lionel Messi. King Felipe VI’s anticipated presence further highlights the occasion’s significance for Spain, which aims for its first World Cup victory since 2010.
Diplomatic presence at the final
The final is anticipated to attract a range of world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, who has also confirmed his attendance at the New York-New Jersey Stadium. The presence of Sánchez and King Felipe VI reflects the considerable importance attached to Spain’s appearance in the World Cup final.
Their attendance also occurs amidst strained diplomatic relations between Sánchez and Trump. The two leaders have publicly disagreed on several international issues in recent months, including the Iran conflict, Spain’s NATO defence spending commitments, and Washington‘s support for Israel‘s military campaign in Gaza following the 2023 Hamas attacks. Despite these differences, both leaders will be present for the football event, with FIFA President Gianni Infantino also expected to attend the final and trophy presentation.
Spain will be hoping to conclude a campaign by ending Argentina’s reign as world champions and securing only the second World Cup title in the country’s history.
Trump and Infantino’s earlier appearance
Prior to the final, Trump and Infantino shared a stage at a reception in the atrium of Trump Tower ahead of a meeting of the FIFA Council. They entered to the sounds of Lee Greenwood‘s “God Bless the USA,” waiting for the song to finish before Infantino made his remarks, followed by Trump.
Both men highlighted the accomplishments of the World Cup, including high attendances and television viewership numbers. Infantino thanked Trump for staging what he described as “the greatest human social and cultural event that mankind has ever witnessed.”
During his remarks, Trump discussed what he considered to be the “stolen” 2020 election, following a primetime television address where he made unverified claims about China‘s alleged “meddling” in the election. He referenced that, had he won the 2020 election, he would have been out of office by the time the 2026 World Cup began. Trump stated, “The polls showed it. Everyone showed it. They rigged the election. And what did I get? I got the World Cup. I got the Olympics. And I brought them here.”
Trump also spoke about the popularity of the event and the performance of the US men’s national team. He mentioned an “unforgettable moment” involving a red card decision for US striker Folarin Balogun ahead of the team’s last-16 game against Belgium, which the US ultimately lost 4-1.
Trump claimed he made a “recommendation” to Infantino regarding the red card. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “You know, it’s so much better … because there’s no controversy. They won the game, and our team had all of its players.” He added that if the player had not been allowed to play, there would have been claims that the team would have won with their best players, suggesting Infantino made a good decision.
Later, Trump indicated his desire for the US to host another World Cup, but “this time we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out,” a remark that drew laughter from the assembled dignitaries.
Argentina’s President opts for superstition
While Spain’s top leaders and President Trump will be in attendance, Argentina President Javier Milei has chosen not to travel to New Jersey despite invitations to join Trump and Infantino. Milei revealed he would remain at the presidential residence in Buenos Aires, believing that watching matches from home has brought Argentina luck throughout the tournament.
The Argentine leader cited the country’s football tradition of cábalas—superstitious match-day rituals—as the reason for skipping the final. Argentina has reportedly won every World Cup match that Milei has watched from home, and the president stated he was unwilling to break this routine before the title clash.
His decision also aligns with a long-standing belief in Argentine football circles that sitting presidents should avoid attending crucial World Cup matches. This belief stems from former president Carlos Menem being labeled a “mufa” (jinx) following Argentina’s defeat to Cameroon at the 1990 World Cup.
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Source: theguardian.com
