In a move that has soccer fans buzzing, Spain's World Cup-winning squad appears to have digitally removed President Donald J. Trump from their celebratory photo—and the internet is loving it.
The moment came after Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the 2026 FIFA Men's World Cup Final on Sunday. President Trump attended the match and participated in the trophy ceremony, but his lingering presence on stage became an awkward focal point. FIFA officials eventually had to urge him to step aside so the team could take their official photos.
By Monday, eagle-eyed fans noticed something peculiar in the images circulating on Spanish media: Trump was conspicuously absent from the frame. Social media erupted with reactions, including one user who posted, “LOL SPAIN EDITED TRUMP OUT OF THE PHOTO 🤣🤣🤣” alongside a comparison of the original and edited shots.
“They are doing it in almost all the Spanish papers that I’m checking online—the regular dailies as well as sports tabs. It’s glorious,” wrote one enthusiastic fan. “This is what the US and the world needs to do: ignore him more. That’ll really get under his skin.”
Another fan added, “The president of FIFA tried to get Trump off stage and he wouldn’t leave… such a weird and awkward moment. He’s a loser.”
Some observers noted that the edited photo only includes the team and their coach, omitting not just Trump but also the king of Spain and the FIFA president. “The king of Spain or the FIFA head isn’t there either. It’s a photo of the team and their coach,” one commenter pointed out.
Of course, it’s also possible that Spain simply chose a different angle that didn’t include the former president, who eventually moved to the side of the stage. But the timing and consistency across multiple outlets suggest a deliberate choice to keep the focus on the athletes.
This isn’t the only controversy to emerge from the World Cup final. Argentina faced backlash for an ugly post-match brawl after their loss, while Lionel Messi’s cold shoulder to Trump also sparked fury. Meanwhile, Gayle King topped the worst-dressed list in a frumpy white outfit, and Ivanka Trump’s bold yellow dress stole the show.
Spain’s victory marks their first World Cup title since 2010, and the team has made it clear that their celebration is about the sport, not politics. Whether or not the photo was actually edited, the message is unmistakable: Spain chose to keep their moment pure.
As the soccer world continues to buzz, one thing is certain: this photo snub has become a defining image of the 2026 World Cup.
