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Spain Responds to President Trump Photobombing World Cup Final Celebration

Spain captain Rodri tried to usher the U.S. President off of the champion’s stage, seemingly eager to avoid what happened at the 2025 Club World Cup.
Sophia Vesely|
Donald Trump remained on the champions’ stage.
Donald Trump remained on the champions’ stage. | Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

Spain seemingly could not avoid what happened last summer.

The winners of the 2026 World Cup, defeating Argentina 1–0 in Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium, gathered on the championship stage for their traditional celebratory team picture and were promptly photo-bombed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who had assisted FIFA president Gianni Infantino in (arguably the one-man job of) handing the team the golden World Cup trophy.

All of a sudden, it was the 2025 Club World Cup again, seeing Trump stand among the Chelsea players while they hoisted their trophy on the championship stage, also in East Rutherford, N.J.

Spain’s captain, the 30-year-old star midfielder Rodri, who also won the tournament’s Golden Ball, was seen trying to politely usher Trump off the stage after taking the trophy. Infantino was also shown jogging up to Trump and lightly tapping him on the arm and pointing to the side of the field, to encourage him to get out of the frame.

It was to no avail, as Trump remained on the right side of the Spanish cohort by the time Rodri hoisted the World Cup trophy up in celebration.

Spain, however, simply photoshopped the President out of the shot before posting to its social media channels later that evening.

President Trump Heavily Booed at World Cup Final

trump with gianni and the trophy
Trump is close friends with FIFA President Gianni Infantino. | Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated

Directly after Jennifer Hudson’s national anthem performance, the cameras flashed to President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who were sitting beside Infantino in a stadium box for the game. The crowd immediately erupted into resounding boos, a similar reception to the one the President received at Madison Square Garden during Game 3 of the NBA Finals in early June.

Trump was also booed heavily while walking out onto the pitch after the match for the trophy celebration.

The World Cup final was the first of the summer’s matches that Trump attended; however, it was not the first time he became involved in the tournament.

Trump faced significant backlash after interfering in the red card call of U.S. men’s national team star striker Folarin Balogun. The President admitted to calling up his close friend Infantino about the referee’s controversial decision. Balogun’s red card was suspended one day before the USMNT played in the round of 16 against Belgium, enabling Balogun to take the pitch. UEFA, Belgium and other federations questioned the potential of “political interference” in soccer’s most prestigious competition.

Infantino also gave Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize back in December during the World Cup draw; however, there were no listed nominees or finalists for the award. FIFA also offered few details on how Trump or the future honorees are determined.

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Sophia Vesely
SOPHIA VESELY

Sophia Vesely is a writer, reporter and editor for SI FC, with an emphasis on North American coverage. Her experience comes from regional journalism as a former sports reporter for the Orlando Sentinel, Dallas Morning News and Seattle Times. Vesely graduated from Swarthmore College, where she played collegiate soccer as a wingback. She specializes in MLS, NWSL and NCAA soccer.

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