Former US President Donald Trump reportedly caused a stir at the World Cup final on Sunday, refusing to leave the stage after presenting the trophy to victorious Spain. The incident, which saw Trump attempt to insert himself into the team's celebratory photo, reportedly led to interventions from FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Spanish captain Rodri, both attempting to guide him away.
Spain secured their World Cup title with a dramatic 1-0 victory over Argentina in extra time. The decisive goal came in the 106th minute from Ferran Torres, who converted a knock-down from Nico Williams. The match, described by some as 'dismal' in New Jersey, saw Argentina reduced to ten men after Enzo Fernandez received a red card. Further controversy erupted at full-time when Leandro Paredes was also shown a red card following an altercation with Eric Garcia, with reports of punches being thrown.
Eyewitness accounts and social media reactions suggest that after handing the trophy to Rodri, Trump lingered on stage, reportedly moving to position himself alongside the Spanish players for their official winner's photograph. Despite Infantino's reported efforts to usher him off and Rodri's apparent gestures, Trump reportedly remained, applauding as the team lifted the coveted trophy.
This is not the first instance of such an occurrence. Last year, Trump reportedly remained on stage during Chelsea's Club World Cup trophy celebration, drawing similar comments from observers. His presence at the World Cup final, alongside Infantino, had already been met with boos from the crowd as they entered the pitch, having watched the game from a secured area.
Prior to the match, Trump had expressed his support for Argentina, citing the difficulty of betting against Lionel Messi. He also reportedly discussed his 'idea' for the future of the World Cup with Infantino, suggesting a multi-country hosting model to mitigate what he called 'anger and shock' and advocating for the tournament's swift return to the US.