Donald Trump admits FIFA boss Gianni Infantino has proven him wrong at World Cup

Joshua Mbu Sun, July 19, 2026 at 7:14 PM UTC

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U.S. President Donald Trump speaks alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at a FIFA Reception at Trump Tower on July 17, 2026, in New York City. Later this weekend, Trump will attend the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. -Credit:Getty

President Donald Trump heaped praise on FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain inside MetLife Stadium. after initially thinking hosting the tournament was "crazy".

Trump, 80, will play a special role after the match’s conclusion, presenting medals and the glittering, gold trophy to the victor. He may also gatecrash the trophy celebrations of the winning team, as he did last summer after Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup in the same stadium where Sunday’s final is being played.

Trump and Infantino struck up a special relationship in the run-up to the North American tournament, with the former being awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize Award, before going to war with Iran. The tournament hasn’t been without controversy, with Trump and Infantino at the center.

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Whether it was the treatment of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s team, who were forced to relocate their base camp to Tijuana, Mexico, or USMNT star Folarin Balogun’s knockout stage red card being suspended to allow the striker to play in the Round of 16 clash with Belgium.

Still, the tournament has seen 103 matches completed, with just Sunday’s final between defending world champions Argentina and European champions Spain remaining. Trump’s visit to New Jersey caused chaos for the media and fans, with security heightened for the President and the occasion.

Ahead of the match, Trump showered Infantino with praise. The FIFA President is hoping to secure a third term, despite coming under fire from the European soccer governing body UEFA over the Balogun saga. Trump’s intervention in the matter was also branded a “moral stain” by U.S. Soccer’s vice president.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino with President of the United States Donald J. Trump during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Reception at Trump Tower on July 17, 2026, in New York City. -Credit:Getty

“Well, I think my first meeting with Gianni, he's fantastic, the job he's done. And he had this idea. And I said, that's crazy. We're not a soccer country. And it turns out we are a soccer country. We're a football country, but we don't want to get it confused.

“But I don't think there's ever been anything like what's happened with the whole World Cup. It's been beautiful. It's a beautiful thing to watch. And I really give Gianni the credit.”

Trump also issued a prediction, with the President complimentary of Argentina and talisman Lionel Messi.

“Well, I knew you were going to ask, so I thought about it a lot. I knew that was a question. I hate to get involved, even though politically, it doesn't matter so much,” Trump responded.

President Donald Trump spoke during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York -Credit:Getty

“The head of Argentina is a friend of mine. He's done a terrific job. But I would say that it's hard to bet against Messi. I watched that pass. I guess you'd call it a pass. It was exactly perfect.

Although it takes some talent to hit the ball off the head coming at that speed. But that was perfect. If you had a strike zone, it was exactly where it had to be.

And I watched also, just before that, the way he got away from the defender. He was very well defended. All of a sudden, he's standing by himself.

“And he kicked it perfectly. And it's hard to bet against him. So I won't make sense. I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi. He's great.”

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Source: “AOL Sports”