Spain defeated Argentina to win the 2026 World Cup. President Donald Trump, who watched the final, presented the trophy alongside FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, declaring that the tournament, which brought the world together, showed the United States had become a soccer country. Trump also demanded that the U.S. host the World Cup again immediately.
The event was the biggest World Cup in history, representing the culmination of over a year of logistical planning and challenges coordinated by the White House alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico. Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House FIFA Task Force, noted that the tournament provided incredible cultural moments. The U.S. was under pressure to stage a successful event ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in L.A. and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
However, the tournament was not without controversy. Hardline U.S. migration policies led to the exclusion of some fans and a Somali referee. Furthermore, the president made a successful appeal to FIFA to overturn a red card issued to a U.S. player.