Copy linkFacebookXPinterestEmailShare this article 0Join the conversationFollow usAdd us as a preferred source on GoogleNewsletterSubscribe to our newsletterWorld Cup 2026 will be remembered, in part, for the shameless courting of Donald Trump by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who is facing an investigation into alleged interference in the Folarin Balogun affair by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).Infantino is an IOC member and has denied any involvement in the suspension of Baloguns ban after he was sent off in the United States win against Bosnia and Herzegovina.Trump claimed that he called Infantino to ask for Baloguns ban to be reviewed. In light of Infantinos close relationship with the President of the United States of America, the outcome was mired in controversy.Play our free match predictor and win �1kWill Trump present the World Cup?Another consequence of Infantinos endless toadying is that there was never any doubt that Trump would be on the pitch after the World Cup final in New Jersey on Sunday to hand over a trophy he once half-joked should live in the Oval Office.Rodri of Spain or Argentinas Lionel Messi will hope to play some part in the lifting of the FIFA World Cup Trophy at New York New Jersey Stadium, but they might have to wrest control of it from the man who bizarrely stood on the podium with Chelsea after they won Infantinos Club World Cup last summer. You may like Who is Gianni Infantino? Everything you need to know about the FIFA President Donald Trump breaks silence on World Cup 2026 proposal to replace qualifiers Iran with Italy Donald Trump makes major World Cup 2026 u-turn The White House has now confirmed that the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize winner, who has spent most of 2026 embroiled in the USAs war with another FIFA member and World Cup participant, will be in attendance at the World Cup final at New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday.White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president would be in New York City on Friday to attend a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in Manhattan, then be at Sunday's game, reports Reuters.Get FourFourTwo NewsletterThe best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week.Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsorsBy submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.FIFA has kept an office in Trump Tower since last summer, further weakening any hope that the governing body would enforce its requirements when the World Cup clashed with government policies.Heads of state have a history of attending the finals and some have been part of the trophy presentation, including in Qatar in 2022 and Russia in 2018.Infantino had already announced that Trump would of course present the trophy to the captain of the winning team. He has not attended any of the matches already played at World Cup 2026.FIFAs inaction over the treatment of the Iranian squad, staff of various participating nations and Somali referee Omar Artan by a nation it allowed to host the tournament is contradictory to the governing bodys stated values.Infantinos ludicrous proximity to Trump made it impossible for FIFA to act with any authority on those issues, but its Infantinos involvement or otherwise in suspending Baloguns ban thats put him in the IOCs sights.According to The Athletic: The IOCs charter states that members must act independently of political and commercial interests, and cannot accept from governments, organisations, or other parties, any mandate or instructions liable to interfere with the freedom of their action and vote.TOPICSArgentinaSpainWorld CupWorld Cup 2026Chris NeeChris is a Warwickshire-based freelance football writer specialising in West Midlands football, the Premier League, the EFL and the J.League. He is the author of the High Protein Beef Paste football newsletter and owner of Aston Villa Review. He supports Coventry Sphinx.
