The crowd at the 2026 World Cup Final booed when U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino walked onto the pitch to present the tournament’s trophy to Spain.
This claim has been rated as true.
During the trophy presentation ceremony following Spain’s 1-0 victory over Argentina in the 2026 World Cup Final, both U.S. President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared on the pitch. Based on television coverage and social media reports, a significant portion of the crowd expressed their displeasure through boos and whistles as they entered. While it is evident that boos were audible, it is not possible to definitively determine if they were directed at Trump, Infantino, or both individuals collectively.
Tensions between soccer fans and both Trump and Infantino may have been heightened due to a recent decision by FIFA to lift a one-match ban on U.S. player Folarin Balogun. Many observers felt this decision was influenced by a phone call between Infantino and Trump and was a sign of favoritism.
Video evidence from various broadcasts, including BBC’s iPlayer and Fox Sports, as well as user-recorded footage from the stands, clearly shows and audibly captures the boos from the attendees as Trump and Infantino approached the presentation area. News outlets such as The Athletic, The Guardian, and Reuters also reported on the booing, noting that it subsided as the trophy presentation proceeded.
This incident follows a pattern of instances where Trump has faced negative crowd reactions at sporting events, including a mixed response at the 2025 Super Bowl, a similar reaction at a 2025 Washington Commanders game, and overwhelmingly negative boos at Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals in New York.
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