Spain won the 2026 World Cup, defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final in New Jersey to claim their second title.
The victory fueled online discussion of the so-called 'Trump Curse,' a theory that sports teams endorsed by Donald Trump often lose. Trump had publicly backed Argentina before the match, calling Javier Milei a "friend."
Following the final, Trump, who presented the trophy as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a World Cup final on home soil, remained on stage during Spain's celebration. FIFA President Gianni Infantino was seen approaching him, appearing to usher him away.
The moment drew widespread criticism online, with many calling his presence "inappropriate" and "embarrassing." It was compared to a similar incident at Chelsea's Club World Cup victory the previous year.
In comments afterward, Trump suggested FIFA could mitigate backlash by awarding future tournaments to two countries at once, a proposal linked to the record $15 billion in revenue FIFA announced from the 2026 event.