Trump lingered on stage with the world champions — but he's nowhere to be found in Spain's own photo

In the World Cup final, Spain beat Argentina 1:0 after extra time thanks to a goal from Ferran Torres. US President Donald Trump, alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, presented the trophy to Spain's captain Rodri at the stadium in New Jersey.

After the ceremony, Infantino left the stage, but Trump stayed put next to the champions, remaining there even for the match's most symbolic moment — the players lifting the trophy over their heads. Only after that did he step aside.

The White House posted a video on X showing Trump handing over the trophy, posing for photos with the players and joining in the celebrations. Yet Spain's own team posted a celebration photo on X that left the US president out entirely. FIFA shared a similar image of its own, in which Trump is only partially visible at the edge of the frame.

The ceremony wasn't an easy one for Trump: even before the trophy presentation, fans at the New Jersey stadium loudly booed him, as one American outlet noted. According to the same report, FIFA chief Infantino was booed as well.

Infantino had already drawn attention during the tournament after admitting that Trump personally called him to ask that a red card be reconsidered for American player Folarin Balogun. FIFA's disciplinary committee ultimately overturned the suspension.

Trump's behaviour at the closing ceremony sparked plenty of commentary among sports pundits. A commentator for Australia's SBS network joked that "he can probably be cropped out of the photo later." CNN anchor Jim Sciutto wrote on X: "Even Infantino realized Spain deserved its own moment — without Trump." Australian sports columnist Rohan Connolly called the scene entirely predictable, adding that the US president is "pathologically incapable of accepting that he isn't the centre of attention every single second."

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz