Why Donald Trump Hasn't Attended a Single 2026 World Cup Match

In the build-up to the 2026 World Cup it almost felt like wherever FIFA president Gianni Infantino went, the President of the USA, Donald Trump, would be there too.

Trump was handed a special inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the finals of the tournament in Washington DC at the end of 2025, having missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize.

Infantino said at the draw ceremony: "This is what we want from a leader; a leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment. We want to unite - that’s what we do here today, that’s what we’ll do at the World Cup.

"You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way, but you have obtained it in an incredible way. You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community - or “soccer” community - to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world."

But while Trump was almost everywhere in the build-up to the tournament, it has come as something of a surprise not to see him present of any of the matches now it has got under way. It has even been reported that he may not attend any matches involving four English-speaking nations.

The 2026 tournament is now almost two weeks old and we are getting towards the end of the group stages and edging closer to the business end of the tournament with the knockouts.

And a report in the Telegraph has revealed why the US President has not been spotted so far and why it is unlikely that he will be present for any match until the final on July 19.

Trump is expected to present the trophy at the showpiece final in New Jersey, but will not be seen before that, unless one thing happens - the US team reaches the semi-final, which would be held in Dallas on July 14.

A well-placed source told the Telegraph: "The president is preoccupied with the US’s July 4 celebrations. The World Cup just isn’t on his radar at the moment. He will give the trophy at the final, but I don’t think we will see him before then. It’s possible he’ll go to a semi-final, but only if the US get that far."

A number of x-rated chants have been heard, directed at Trump, while there has been plenty of focus on Iran's participation in the tournament, given the war in the Middle East, with the national team leaving a hand-written note in their dressing room following their draw with Belgium.

Trump has a number of other things to deal with, as well as the conflict with Iran, with plans for his 80th birthday celebrations and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.

Head of the White House World Cup taskforce Andrew Giuliani said: "I know he’s got a couple of international trips that he has planned as well as Independence Day, so the only thing I’ll tell you about my boss, and I’ve known him for, heck, 30 years, and he’s kind of like an uncle figure to me, he likes a good cliffhanger, right?

“He likes to leave people watching, so all I can tell you is ‘keep tuned in’, and I’m excited to see what the next steps are.”

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White House insiders believe the US President has already made up his mind following the controversial decision by FIFA