The trophy ceremony at the 2026 World Cup final will feature an unusual double act. FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed on Tuesday that he and United States president Donald Trump will jointly present the trophy to the winning captain at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on 19 July. “We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together,” Infantino told Fox & Friends, adding, “We are together all the time.” The arrangement departs from the practice of the past two tournaments, in Russia and Qatar, where Infantino alone handed over the prize.

The decision follows Trump’s appearance at the same stadium for the 2025 Club World Cup final, where he presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James but then remained on the podium during the team’s celebrations, a moment that drew boos from sections of the crowd and visible bemusement from players. Infantino has cultivated a close relationship with the president, awarding him a newly created FIFA peace prize at the World Cup draw in Washington last December. Trump has yet to attend any match of the tournament, which the US is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico; the White House task force director said the president’s schedule had kept him away, though he has been seen at NBA and UFC events in recent weeks.

Heads of state have presented the World Cup trophy before: Queen Elizabeth II handed the Jules Rimet trophy to Bobby Moore in 1966, and King Juan Carlos of Spain did the same for Italy’s Dino Zoff in 1982. In the modern era, however, the ceremony has been the preserve of the FIFA president. European football observers noted that the joint presentation revives a tradition that had largely faded, while social media commentary from Latin America and Asia ranged from mockery to suggestions that winning players should refuse to lift the trophy until Trump leaves the field. The White House reposted Infantino’s announcement without further comment.

The US men’s national team, ranked 13th in the world, is not considered a likely finalist, with prediction markets giving it around a 3% chance of lifting the trophy. The side won its opening match against Paraguay and faces Turkey next in Los Angeles. The final will thus almost certainly feature two foreign teams, making the podium a stage for sports diplomacy rather than a homecoming celebration. The next concrete milestone is the match itself on 19 July, when the world will see whether the joint presentation proceeds smoothly or echoes the awkwardness of last summer’s club final.