NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� President Donald Trump is set to present the trophy to the winner of Sunday鈥檚 final between Argentina and Spain. But to him, the real victor of soccer鈥檚 premier tournament just might be the United States.
鈥泪t turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it鈥檚 going to remain,鈥� Trump said Friday at a at Trump Tower in New York City. 鈥淭his has really brought the world together.鈥�
For the White House, Sunday鈥檚 match is the culmination of well over a year of navigating a litany of logistical challenges alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico for what would be the biggest World Cup in history. It had to balance the Trump administration鈥檚 hard-line migration policies that from entry into the United States.
The White House from human rights groups, and the tournament over high ticket prices. For months, Trump flirted with the idea of that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and in the weeks before the tournament鈥檚 start, local authorities sparred with FIFA over , heightening tensions even more.
As the first games were preparing to begin, the administration continued to find itself under global scrutiny for its visa decisions, such as who had won accolades for his officiating. The pressure increased after Trump launched a war with Iran, leaving the administration to grapple with whose fans and some supporting personnel were and that ultimately was based across the border in Tijuana.
But the broader story of the World Cup eventually shifted. Social media was flooded with tales of soccer fans from around the world enjoying the treats and traditions of the U.S., from beer to ranch dressing. Some fears about the Trump administration that circulated beforehand, such as the threat of immigration enforcement raids near the games, never materialized.
鈥淥ne of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we鈥檙e talking about what happened on the pitch, then we鈥檝e done our job,鈥� Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said in an interview with The Associated Press. 鈥淏ut I think it鈥檚 even better than that. We鈥檙e not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we鈥檙e talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.鈥�
Still, Trump did create controversy with a phone call he made to FIFA chief Gianni Infantino earlier this month in which he of a controversial referee call in Team USA鈥檚 match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee to U.S. star forward Folarin Balogun, meaning he wouldn鈥檛 be able to play in the subsequent match against Belgium.
Trump says he simply asked Infantino, who has cozied up to the U.S. president and , to review the call. FIFA then and Trump told Infantino at the FIFA reception on Friday that 鈥測ou made another great decision, if you think about it,” because it allowed the U.S. to keep a key player on the field even though the team lost the match to Belgium 4-1.
Giuliani said the administration had a 鈥渄uty鈥� to ask questions and raise concerns about the officiating process, which drew scrutiny because of the use of video review and slow-motion replay to issue the red card. He noted that the Trump administration invested billions in federal funding to ensure that the World Cup was 鈥渘ot just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.鈥�
The Trump administration was under considerable pressure to pull off a successful World Cup tournament because the U.S. will soon host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
The U.S. is also largely expected to be awarded the 2031 Women鈥檚 World Cup, although Giuliani said in the AP interview that part of getting those hosting duties will be 鈥渆nsuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women鈥檚 World Cup鈥� 鈥� an allusion to the Trump administration鈥檚 fierce opposition to transgender women participating in women鈥檚 sports.
Sen. Andy Kim, D-N.J., a self-professed World Cup superfan whose home state is hosting Sunday鈥檚 final, noted that logistics for the tournament have gone mostly smoothly, aside from the occasional hiccups on some issues such as transit to the games.
But 鈥渙verall, just the joy that people have, the excitement that they have, has dramatically outweighed鈥� any downsides, Kim said, who has been eagerly watching the games with his two young sons over the last several weeks.
The U.S. also faced broader tensions with its World Cup co-hosts of Canada and Mexico. Trump announced stiff tariffs on both countries in his return to the White House, and he has chosen not to renew a trade pact among the three countries, setting up a new period of negotiations.
On Friday, Trump threatened to tariff Canada over its wildfires, which have hurt air quality in parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey where the World Cup final is being held. He joked on Friday that FIFA should choose the U.S. for the World Cup soon again, and 鈥渢his time, we鈥檒l leave Mexico and Canada out.鈥�
Still, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney plan to attend the final at Trump鈥檚 request, in a sign that soccer can overcome some geopolitical tensions.
鈥泪 from President Trump to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, and I decided to go because it鈥檚 a direct invitation from the President of the United States,鈥� Sheinbaum said. 鈥淧rime Minister Carney will also be there.鈥�
Trump, as is generally customary for heads of state hosting the tournament, will present the trophy to the eventual winner. But he hasn’t tipped his hand publicly about whether he has a preferred team.
Spain is a known irritant to Trump, with its and its refusal to let the U.S. launch strikes against Iran from its bases. Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei is a favorite of the Trump administration, with the U.S. president going as far as to threaten to if Milei鈥檚 coalition didn鈥檛 prevail in legislative elections.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez the game, although Milei 鈥� 鈥� will stay at home.
___
Kim reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Washington contributed to this report.
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
