Is Donald Trump handing out the World Cup trophy? What to know

Jul 19, 2026 - 17:35

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Editor's note: Follow for live updates on Argentina-Spain World Cup final

The eyes of the soccer world will all be on East Rutherford, New Jersey on Sunday, June 19 with the final match of the 2026 World Cup set to be played.

Lionel Messi is aiming to lead Argentina to back-to-back World Cup trophies in what is likely his final World Cup appearance. On the other side of the pitch, 19-year-old Lamine Yamal is looking to bring the first World Cup trophy back to Spain since 2010.

Sunday's winner is set to receive the FIFA World Cup trophy from President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino during the on-field presentation following the 3 p.m. ET match at MetLife Stadium.

That won't be the only thing the winner of Sunday's World Cup final will be going home with. They'll also receive $50 million from the tournament's prize pool, which is an increase of $8 million from what Argentina received for winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The runner-up will receive a $33 million payout from the purse.

Here's what to know about Trump's involvement with the presentation of the trophy:

Is Donald Trump handing out World Cup trophy?

Yes, the president will be handing out the World Cup trophy to the winner of Sunday's final matchup between Argentina and Spain.

Trump is set to co-present and hand the trophy out alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Both spoke alongside each other at a press conference on Friday, June 17 in New York City.

"We will be together with the president, enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said during a recent interview on Fox. "We are together all the time."

Trump's presence on the World Cup podium isn't something new for the leader of a host nation. In 2022, it was Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, while Vladimir Putin helped Infantino hand out medals in 2018.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Trump's appearance would cap what she called the most watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American history. Trump presented the Club World Cup trophy last July at MetLife Stadium, where he was booed before kickoff, and then stayed on the stage following Chelsea's lifting of the trophy instead of moving to the side, making his dress rehearsal not exactly smooth and an awkward moment.