U.S. President Donald Trump will hand the World Cup trophy to the winning captain when Spain and Argentina meet in the final on Sunday in New Jersey, FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed. The ceremony caps a tournament Trump has not attended a single match of until now.
Trump's involvement has nonetheless drawn attention. He personally called Infantino to intervene in the red-card case of U.S. forward Folarin Balogun, after which the suspension was reduced to a probationary ban. At the tournament draw, Infantino presented Trump with a newly created FIFA peace prize, including a gold trophy and medal.
The final itself carries political undertones. Argentine players unfurled a banner reading 'Las Malvinas son argentinas' after their semi-final win over England. Singer Jennifer Hudson is set to perform the U.S. national anthem before kickoff — a rarity at World Cup matches.