Former President Donald Trump is confirmed to attend the World Cup final on Sunday, where he will present the trophy to the winning team. In a tradition mirroring American sports leagues like the NFL, the victors will also be presented with championship rings.
Fifa will provide 30 rings for the World Cup champions, with an additional 1,996 rings available for fans to purchase. The design of these rings will feature a miniature World Cup trophy and an engraved band.
Trump's attendance marks his first World Cup game of the tournament. He had previously missed all of the United States' matches before their elimination in the last 16.
While a weather warning has been issued for New York due to air quality concerns from Canadian wildfires, there is no indication that the final at MetLife Stadium will be impacted. Fifa president Gianni Infantino had previously stated Trump would attend, a confirmation later echoed by White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The relationship between Infantino and Trump recently drew scrutiny during the tournament. Trump reportedly called Infantino to request a review of a red card issued to United States striker Folarin Balogun. The subsequent decision to suspend Balogun's automatic ban faced significant criticism, raising questions about the tournament's integrity. Balogun was permitted to play in the knockout match against Belgium, where the United States lost 4-1. No other red or yellow card suspensions have been overturned in this World Cup, despite similar appeals from France and England.