Booing at the Final
Donald Trump was met with boos at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday as he took the stage at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. He appeared alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino to present the trophy to tournament champions Spain. The stadium was referred to as New York New Jersey Stadium for the duration of the tournament. The boos from the crowd were audible as the two men walked onto the field.
Spain secured their victory over Argentina in extra time with a 1-0 scoreline. Trump arrived at the stadium via Marine One, with the helicopter flying over the venue approximately 45 minutes before kickoff. He watched the match from a VIP section, seated behind glass with Infantino.
Other notable figures in attendance near Trump and Infantino included Spain‘s King Felipe VI, Canadian prime minister Mark Carney, and Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum.
Controversial Intervention and Fan Reactions
Earlier in July, Trump confirmed his personal involvement in overturning a suspension for U.S. soccer star striker Folarin Balogun. This followed a controversial red card issued against Balogun. Trump stated he contacted Infantino, which led to FIFA suspending the red card decision. This allowed Balogun to participate in the Round 16 game against Belgium, a match the U.S. ultimately lost 4-1.
The decision to reverse the red card was met with a mix of anger and disappointment, particularly among Belgian fans. Reports indicated this marked the first time FIFA had reversed a red card since 1962, making the intervention unprecedented.
Prior to Argentina‘s loss to Spain in the final, Trump made comments about Lionel Messi in a pre-recorded interview. He remarked, “I would say that it’s hard to bet against Messi… I won’t pick sides. I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi. He’s great.” During the silver medal ceremony, the interaction between Trump and Messi was brief.
Pattern of Sports Team Losses
Trump‘s attendance at sporting events and his connections with sports figures have led to discussions about a potential “sports curse.” Several instances have been highlighted where teams experienced losses after being associated with him.
The U.S. Men’s National Team‘s World Cup exit with a 4-1 loss to Belgium followed Trump‘s intervention regarding Folarin Balogun‘s red card. The Belgian Football Association reportedly mocked the decision on social media after their dominant victory.
The New York Knicks experienced their only loss during the 2026 NBA Finals in Game 3, the only game Trump attended. This 111-115 loss to the San Antonio Spurs ended a 13-game winning streak for the Knicks. Some fans attributed this loss to a “curse,” with some even performing a “cleanse” outside Madison Square Garden. Despite this, the Knicks went on to win the series in five games.
In November 2025, Trump attended a Washington Commanders game where the Detroit Lions defeated the Commanders 44-22. He received a mixed reaction at FedEx Field. Following this victory, the Lions‘ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown performed a “Trump Dance” after a touchdown, for which he later apologized. The Lions subsequently lost five of their last eight games and missed the playoffs, with some attributing this downturn to a “Trump curse.”
During the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage’s Black Course on Long Island, New York, Trump attended the first day of competition. After the morning round, the U.S. team was down 3-1 to Europe. Trump told reporters, “We’re going to get it done. One way or another, we’ll get it done.” By the end of the day, the U.S. was down 5 1/2 to 2 1/2. Europe ultimately won the competition 15-13, and the president of the PGA of America apologized for chants directed at Team Europe.
Source: hollywoodreporter.com
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