President Donald Trump will attend the World Cup final on Sunday between Spain and defending champion Argentina, the White House confirmed on Thursday.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would be in ​New York City on Friday to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan, ‌then be at Sunday’s game at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J, Reuters reported.

The comments confirmed Trump’s expected participation after FIFA president Gianni Infantino said last month that he would present the trophy.

“We will be together with the president, enjoying the final and handing ​the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino said on June 23 on “Fox & Friends.”

Heads of state ​have a history of attending the finals and some have been part of the ⁠trophy presentation, including in Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018.

Neither Trump nor vice president JD Vance ​have previously attended any of the 102 games played thus far at this World Cup, which is co-hosted ​by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Members of the cabinet have appeared at games featuring the U.S. men’s national team in California and Seattle.

“His attendance will cap what has been the most-watched, most secure and most successful World Cup in American ​history,” Leavitt said.

The United States hosted the Men’s World Cup one previous time, in 1994.

Trump has attended ​multiple high-profile sporting events, including the Super Bowl, U.S. Open tennis tournament, Ryder Cup and Daytona 500, during his two presidential ‌terms. ⁠In November 2024, he was present for a UFC event at Madison Square Garden. Last month, he attended UFC Freedom 250 on the White House South Lawn, as well as Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden.

Last summer, he was at the ​same venue as Sunday’s match ​for the Club World ⁠Cup Final and shared the stage as English club Chelsea raised the trophy.

Infantino partnered with Trump to announce the World Cup draw would be last December at ​the Kennedy Center in Washington. He also presented Trump with the first FIFA ​Peace Prize.

Trump acknowledged ⁠calling Infantino to review the red-card suspension of United States striker Folarin Balogun for a foul in the 2-0 victory over Bosnia and Herzegovina on July 1.

Balogun was automatically banned for the following round of 16 match against ⁠Belgium ​on July 6. Infantino acknowledged receiving a call from Trump, who ​publicly lobbied for Balogun to play, but the FIFA president said he did not interfere with the decision-making process.

FIFA suspended the one-game ban ​on July 5, enabling Balogun to play amid the controversy. Belgium eliminated the U.S. squad 4-1.

Argentina scored two late goals to defeat England 2-1 in a dramatic FIFA World Cup semi-final in Atlanta on Wednesday, booking their place in Sunday’s final against Spain.

England looked set to reach their first World Cup final since 1966 after Anthony Gordon gave his side the lead early in the second half. However, the defending champions staged a remarkable comeback, with Enzo Fernandez equalising in the 85th minute before substitute Lautaro Martinez headed home Lionel Messi’s cross deep into stoppage time.

The victory sends Argentina into the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where they will face European champions Spain. England will take on France in Saturday’s third-place play-off.

The opening half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams cancelling each other out and creating few clear scoring opportunities.

England broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart when Harry Kane helped launch an attack that ended with Morgan Rogers delivering a low cross for Gordon to calmly finish at the far post.

Argentina gradually took control of the match, forcing England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford into several important saves. Nico Gonzalez was denied by the England keeper before Alexis Mac Allister struck the woodwork as the South Americans piled on the pressure.

Their persistence paid off five minutes from full time when Messi found Fernandez on the edge of the penalty area. The midfielder controlled the ball before firing a powerful strike beyond Pickford to level the score.

With momentum firmly in their favour, Argentina continued to press for a winner. Mac Allister hit the post for a second time before Messi collected the rebound and delivered a cross for Martinez, who headed home in the second minute of stoppage time to complete the comeback.

Argentina will now attempt to retain the World Cup title they won in Qatar, while England were left to reflect on another heartbreaking exit after surrendering their lead in the closing stages.

Spain produced a commanding display to defeat France 2-0 on Tuesday, securing a place in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final with a disciplined performance that underlined their status as one of the tournament’s standout teams.

The reigning European champions struck once in each half and frustrated France’s star-studded attack throughout the contest at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Mikel Oyarzabal gave Spain the lead in the 22nd minute, calmly converting a penalty after teenage winger Lamine Yamal was brought down in the penalty area. The breakthrough rewarded Spain’s early dominance and set the tone for the remainder of the match.

France, who entered the semi-final as one of the tournament favourites after scoring 16 goals in six matches, struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against Spain’s organised defence. Captain Kylian Mbappé, the competition’s leading scorer heading into the match, was closely marked and denied the space that had fuelled France’s impressive run to the last four.

Spain doubled their advantage early in the second half when right-back Pedro Porro finished off a flowing team move after combining with Dani Olmo, leaving France with a mountain to climb.

Despite increasing the pressure in the closing stages and making several attacking substitutions, France were unable to find a way through Spain’s resolute defence, which has conceded just one goal throughout the tournament.

The victory extends Spain’s remarkable unbeaten run and sends La Roja into their first World Cup final since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010. It also continues Spain’s recent dominance over France, having defeated Les Bleus in both the UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final and the 2025 UEFA Nations League.

France, champions in 2018 and runners-up in 2022, will now turn their attention to Saturday’s third-place play-off.

Spain will face either England or Argentina in Sunday’s FIFA World Cup 2026 final at New York New Jersey Stadium, where they will bid to win a second world title.