Trump Reportedly Given a Stage to Hand Over the World Cup Trophy
JAKARTA - US President Donald Trump is reportedly likely to be in the middle of the World Cup trophy celebrations. talkSport reported that FIFA did not mind if Trump handed over the World Cup trophy directly to the captain of the winning team after the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
Not only that, FIFA is said to be willing to let Trump decide whether he wants to stay in the middle of the celebration when the trophy is raised.
This will certainly be a major deviation from the normal FIFA protocol. If it is true that Trump will be in the middle of the World Cup trophy celebration, the assumption of political interference in sports is getting brighter.
Trump has already done something similar at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, when Chelsea - affectionately known as the World Champion Club - beat Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 and the president remained on stage as captain Reece James lifted the trophy.
As the team celebrated by jumping around, Trump stood in the middle, smiling and clapping.
It created an awkward viral moment, but most people laughed it off and continued their activities.
Reported by FOX News, with the news that FIFA is willing to allow Trump to be in the front row during the World Cup trophy presentation, it is clear what the reaction will be. That is what makes this reported FIFA stance interesting.
For years, fans saw the political and sporting realities as inseparable. The media urged athletes and leagues to use their "platforms" to deliver certain messages.
But Trump changed the equation. Once he got involved, "politics in sports" became a problem.
FIFA also knows exactly what they are doing. FIFA president Gianni Infantino has built a close relationship with Trump, and the president has played a key role in the staging of FIFA events related to the tournament.
According to talkSPORT, Mexican and Canadian officials are expected to be invited to the closing ceremony, which makes sense as the tournament is co-hosted by the three countries.