U.S. President Donald Trump’s arrival at the World Cup final on Sunday caused significant logistical disruptions, with fans, media and staff facing lengthy queues at New York New Jersey Stadium after enhanced security checks accompanied his helicopter landing near the venue.
Trump arrived on Marine One roughly 45 minutes before kickoff and was seated in a glassed-in luxury section alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Spain’s King Felipe VI, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Organizers did not display Trump on the stadium’s video screens. Media members reported waits of up to three hours to clear security, with some journalists denied entry despite holding tournament accreditation, while malfunctioning ticket scanners compounded frustrations in the heat.
The appearance marks Trump’s first at a match during this tournament, after he had not attended any prior World Cup games, and makes him the first sitting U.S. president to attend a final on home soil.