President Donald Trump became a trending topic online following the 2026 FIFA World Cup final after appearing to remain on stage during Spain’s trophy celebration. Spain won the World Cup after beating Argentina with 1-0 as Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time.
Torres broke the deadlock in the 102nd minute, finishing a flowing attacking move after both sides had battled through a tense and goalless 90 minutes. His strike proved enough to deliver Spain’s first World Cup triumph since its historic victory in South Africa in 2010.
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Trump, who is the first sitting U.S. president to attend a World Cup final on home soil, handed the trophy to the winning team. According to Euro News, Trump hovered near the team following this, leading to FIFA President Gianni Infantino trying to get him away. However, Trump continued to stay in the winning photo, standing on the side of the stage.
This led to online backlash with many calling Trump’s presence in the photo inappropriate. It was also noted that this was a repeat of Trump crashing Chelsea’s Club World Cup win last year, when the U.S. president stayed front and center as the team held the trophy aloft.
“Beyond pathetic. Trump wouldn’t leave the podium during Spain’s World Cup trophy celebration until FIFA President Gianni Infantino pulled him away,” one X user said.
“The president of FIFA tried to get Trump off stage and he wouldn’t leave… such a weird and awkward moment. He’s a loser,” another wrote on X.
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“No surprise, Trump didn’t want to leave the stage. Love how Rodri is trying to shoo him off. Even Infantino couldn’t get him off,” another X user said.
Spain’s victory also fueled the “Trump curse theory,” which notes that Trump’s endorsements, or even his presence at games leads to a loss for its preferred side. Speaking to Fox News ahead of the match, Trump described Argentinian president Javier Milei as a “friend of mine” who has done a “terrific job,” and joined Benjamin Netanyahu in backing Argentina. The term “Trump curse” began trending online following Spain’s victory.
Prior to the match, Trump told FOX that the U.S. should host another World Cup “immediately,” saying: “We have to do this again, and we have to do this again while I am around, hear that Gianni?!” It has been noted that the U.S. cannot host another World Cup till at least 2038.