During the trophy presentation ceremony, the U.S. President handed the cup to the Spanish team alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, while the players celebrated under a shower of golden confetti.
In subsequent statements to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump described the final as a "close and thrilling" match and praised the "dominant performance" displayed by the Spanish team on the field. However, for the President, the tournament's success went beyond the sporting result; he stated that the true winner was the United States, demonstrating that it is a true "soccer nation". Trump expressed deep pride in the country's role as host, highlighting that the event "has united the world" and that visitors from all over "love our country."
The Spanish victory occurred in a complex diplomatic context. Despite Trump's praise, Spain has been identified as a point of friction for his administration due to its stance on NATO spending and refusal to allow the use of bases for attacks against Iran. In contrast, Trump has shown a clear preference for Argentine President Javier Milei, who chose not to attend the final due to superstition. Nevertheless, the presidential box was graced by the presence of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and President Pedro Sánchez.
Finally, motivated by the viewership numbers, Trump has already hinted at proposing a new U.S. bid to host the tournament in the future, even joking about the idea of excluding current partners, Canada and Mexico. For the White House, the conclusion of the World Cup represented success after overcoming logistical challenges and tensions over its immigration policies.