There have been a few hiccups along the way, but the 2026 FIFA World Cup is truly up and running. After the United States Men’s National Team kicked things off with a 4-1 win against Paraguay, Spain stole the show for all the wrong reasons as they were held to a goalless draw by Cape Verde.
But in the midst of all the action, the spotlight was focused on President Donald Trump on Monday, June 15, after a report from soccer insider Ben Jacobs.
How President Donald Trump Could Break Protocol at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
On Monday evening, Ben Jacobs reported that “FIFA have no objection to Trump breaking presentation protocol and handing the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain, and remaining in the thick of the celebrations.”
In his report for talkSPORT, Jacobs added that President Trump has already informed FIFA of his wish to hand over the prestigious World Cup trophy to the eventual winners.
It didn’t take all that long for Trump’s rumored wish to be criticized, as fans and analysts of the sport took to social media to vent.
Reporter Jimmy Murphy wrote, “Can’t wait for the winning team to say keep the trophy and p**s off!” A statistician for Liverpool Football Club also struck a similar tone, saying, “I sincerely hope that the winning captain poses for whatever obligatory photo he has to and then performs the trophy lift with his teammates after he has left the stage.”
Twitch streamer Micha added, “Only the WORLD CHAMPIONS can lift that trophy.”
Others took aim at FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, questioning why he couldn’t (or wouldn’t) take a stance and keep the trophy presentation sacred. More threw their weight behind Iran’s World Cup campaign, hoping they would lift the trophy, though the chances of that happening are beyond slim.
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President Trump drew a fair bit of criticism at the FIFA Club World Cup last year in New Jersey when he presented the trophy to Chelsea’s tournament-winning captain, Reece James. President Trump stayed back as James lifted the trophy with his teammates, raising eyebrows.
Chelseas striker Cole Palmer later admitted he was confused by that turn of events.
In any case, it certainly looks like Trump will be involved in the celebrations when the tournament presents an eventual winner. Notably, Trump was absent from the USA’s World Cup opener against Paraguay. The President was in attendance at the UFC Freedom 250 event instead.
He’s probably going to fall asleep anyway 😂