The White House confirmed on Thursday that former President Donald Trump will be at the FIFA World Cup 2026 final, taking place at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey this Monday. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt made the announcement during a briefing, putting an end to the buzz about whether Trump would show up for football's biggest event. Last month, FIFA president Gianni Infantino hinted that Trump would be involved in the trophy presentation after the match. There had been some questions about his absence from earlier games, especially since the World Cup is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Recently, Trump was seen at Game 3 of the NBA Finals and even hosted UFC Freedom 250 at the White House.
Leavitt called Trump's appearance at the final "a fitting conclusion" to a tournament that highlighted America's ability to host global sporting events. Infantino also confirmed that he and Trump are expected to jointly present the World Cup trophy to the winning captain after the match, as he said, "We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together."
Performers of FIFA World Cup 2026 Closing Ceremony
The World Cup final is set to not only crown a champion but also wrap up the inaugural 48-team edition of this iconic tournament, featuring one of FIFA's grandest entertainment spectacles. The closing ceremony kicks off at 23:00 IST, just 90 minutes before the much-anticipated match starts at 00:30 IST on July 20 in India. Get ready for an exciting pre-match celebration with performances from Laura Pausini, Nicole Scherzinger, Robbie Williams, and streamer IShowSpeed, plus a special appearance by Tom Cruise. And don’t miss Jennifer Hudson as she belts out the United States national anthem right before the game begins.
In a groundbreaking move, FIFA has also introduced its first-ever half-time show for the World Cup final, which is expected to last nearly 25 minutes. The lineup includes superstars like Madonna, Shakira, Justin Bieber, and BTS, with Coldplay's Chris Martin curating the entire performance. This initiative is part of a larger effort to support the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, which aims to raise a whopping USD 100 million to enhance education and football opportunities for children across the globe.
