Former US President Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Argentina in today's World Cup final, telling Fox News he finds it “hard to bet against Messi”. Trump, who is scheduled to present the World Cup trophy to the victors of the highly anticipated match between Argentina and Spain, discussed his prediction ahead of the game. He revealed he had given the question considerable thought, anticipating he would be asked.
Highlighting his friendship with Argentinian President Javier Milei, whom he described as having done a “terrific job”, Trump attributed his choice to Argentina’s star player. He recounted watching Messi's game-winning assist during the semi-final clash against England, describing the pass as “perfect” and noting Messi's ability to evade defenders. While acknowledging other footballing greats, including Cristiano Ronaldo and past legend Pelé, Trump refrained from naming Messi as the greatest of all time, citing his personal connections and memories.
The conversation also veered towards the future of the World Cup, with Trump expressing his desire for the United States to host the tournament again. He recalled his initial scepticism about stadium attendance during a previous US bid, stating that the event ultimately saw near-full stadiums. Trump then revealed an “idea” he proposed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino: to announce two host countries simultaneously for future tournaments to mitigate any potential backlash.
“I had a great idea for Gianni,” Trump stated, suggesting that announcing the US as a host for the next available slot, alongside another country for the subsequent one, could “take out some of the anger and the shock!” He added that based on the previous success, the US would be “requesting it again immediately.”
Trump concluded by directly addressing Infantino, reiterating his call for the US to host again. His remarks underscore a keen interest in major sporting events and a desire for the United States to play a prominent role in their organisation.