President Donald Trump may have skipped the U.S. men's national team's World Cup opener Friday night, but he's already got his eyes on the biggest prize: the final.
According to NBC News, Trump is expected to attend the 2026 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on July 19. A White House official confirmed the date is being held on his schedule, though plans could shift over the next month. The president, who attended the Club World Cup final at the same venue last summer, appears eager to return.
Before the U.S. kicked off against Paraguay at SoFi Stadium, Trump called head coach Mauricio Pochettino with a message of support. “I just called to say you’re a fantastic guy, a fantastic coach,” Trump told Pochettino, per the White House. “I know about your record, your success and how great the players are. I think you’ve got a really good chance of going all the way so I just wish you a lot of luck.”
The U.S. team certainly lived up to that confidence on the pitch. They rolled to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, with Christian Pulisic providing two assists in the first half alone and Folarin Balogun bagging his first two World Cup goals. Balogun called the performance a statement. “Three goals in the first half opening game — I felt like it was a real statement, and that’s what you wanted to do,” he said. “I’m very, very delighted with the overall performance, especially the first half.”
Trump's potential appearance at the final adds a layer of political spectacle to an already electric tournament. The U.S. is co-hosting the 2026 World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico, and the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will be the centerpiece. The president's presence would be a major moment, though the White House remains cautious about locking in the date.
In the meantime, the USMNT has plenty of work to do. They face Australia on June 19 and close out group play against Türkiye on June 25. A deep run would make a Trump visit even more meaningful — and the team is already showing it can handle the pressure.
For fans wondering if they'll catch a glimpse of the commander-in-chief in the stands, the answer is a tentative yes. But as any soccer fan knows, nothing is certain until the final whistle — or, in this case, the final confirmation.
