On Sunday, July 19, 2026, President Donald Trump attended the FIFA World Cup final held at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Positioned between First Lady Melania Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump watched from his suite as Jennifer Hudson delivered a powerful performance of "The Star-Spangled Banner" to a sold-out crowd of over 80,000 fans.

Despite Team USA’s elimination in the Round of 16 by Belgium, Hudson’s anthem performance was met with enthusiastic applause, with Trump shown on the FOX broadcast amid the crowd’s cheers. The event also featured British singer-songwriter Robbie Williams and a speech by actor Tom Cruise emphasizing unity across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico during the month-long tournament.

The FIFA World Cup trophy was presented in a Louis Vuitton luggage case by Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz and was hoisted for the crowd by 1978 Argentina World Cup champion Mario Kempes. Argentina, led by Lionel Messi, aimed to defend their title after winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The final match saw Spain face Argentina, with the event highlighting the spirit of unity and sportsmanship among the host nations and participating teams.

Sources