Following Spain’s World Cup victory over Argentina, images shared on FIFA’s official social media accounts appear to have excluded President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The apparent cropping occurred after Trump remained on stage after presenting the trophy to the winning team. The pictures, which show the Spanish team celebrating with the trophy at MetLife Stadium, seem to be carefully framed to omit Trump, who was standing near the team during their celebrations.
The Spanish team’s own Instagram posts immediately after the match and a subsequent 20-slide update also did not feature Trump. His presence during the trophy presentation was noted by some commentators as awkward, with Infantino reportedly attempting to guide Trump away from the team as they lifted the trophy and confetti was launched.
Previous Trophy Presentation Incidents
This incident is not the first of its kind involving Trump at a trophy presentation. Last year, when he and Infantino presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea, a similar situation unfolded. While Infantino moved out of the frame, Trump remained prominently positioned as the team celebrated with the trophy.
Chelsea captain Reece James commented after that game that he had been informed Trump would “present the trophy, and then exit the stage.” Another player, Cole Palmer, expressed being “a bit confused” by the events during the presentation. These instances have drawn attention to Trump’s conduct during such official ceremonies.
Controversies Surrounding FIFA and Trump
The relationship between Trump and Infantino has been a source of controversy throughout the World Cup. Some fans have accused Infantino of attempting to align himself with Trump, particularly given the United States was hosting the tournament. Former FIFA president Sepp Blatter described the organization as a “dictatorship” in February and alleged that Infantino was “submissive” to and seeking favor with Trump.
Further controversy arose after Trump reportedly called Infantino before FIFA lifted a red card suspension for U.S. striker Folarin Balogun, though Trump stated he did not instruct Infantino on the matter. Infantino has also faced accusations from some fans regarding alleged favoritism towards Argentina and its star player, Lionel Messi. Accusations of FIFA favoring Argentina have existed for several years, intensifying this year after Argentina’s match against Egypt, which led the Egyptian team to question the “consistency and fairness” of officiating.
Spain’s Victory and Tournament Overview
Spain secured their World Cup victory by defeating reigning champions Argentina in a final that saw a single goal scored in overtime. This win marked Spain’s first World Cup title since 2010, preventing Argentina from becoming the first team since Brazil in 1962 to win consecutive titles. During the final, Argentina played with one less player in the latter stages after Enzo Fernandez received a red card for a tackle on Spain’s Pau Cubarsí.
The tournament itself was described by Trump as “one of the greatest events of any kind ever held.” It was noted as the largest World Cup to date, featuring more teams, matches, and hosts than previous editions. With 104 games, an increase from 64 in 2022, some matches were perceived as lengthy. Despite the expanded format, there were notable moments, including Cape Verde’s performance and Belgium’s late comeback against Senegal. The final match, where the stronger team was reportedly stifled by an opponent that avoided engaging fully, was seen by some as characteristic of the tournament as a whole, which was described as both exhaustive and exhausting.
The World Cup concluded on Sunday.
Read Also
Source: forbes.com
Sam Whitlock is a Sports News Writer at News-GB.org. He moved from local newspapers into digital sport. He focuses on rugby union, golf and boxing and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Gloucestershire and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Gloucester, he plays amateur rugby and follows the fight game. “Clarity beats cleverness in breaking sport news.”