Argentina vs Spain, FIFA 2026 World Cup Final: United States of America (USA) President Donald Trump was spotted at the stadium with first lady Melania Trump as he was sitting beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino for the tournament-decider between Argentina and Spain at the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. A video of the same surfaced on social media as they were seated behind protective glass.
Argentina vs Spain, FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Why does Donald Trump often sit behind protective glass?
The USA President sits behind the bulletproof protective glass to ensure his safety against potential assassins, especially during outside rallies or activities. It was a security measure implemented by US Secret Service following the assassination attempt in July 2024 in in Butler, Pennsylvania. Transparent ballistic glass panels are strategically placed around the podium during outdoor campaign rallies and public speeches. Unlike indoor venues, which facilitate thorough screening of attendees at entry points, open-air events necessitate distinct security measures due to their environmental context. These robust, portable panels provide a protective barrier against long-range ballistic threats while ensuring clear visibility for the audience.
🇺🇸🇪🇸🇦🇷 Trump is officially in the building!
Writer: Samuel pic.twitter.com/t29hy9knNc https://t.co/s9MhMDgFYG
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) July 19, 2026
Argentina vs Spain, FIFA World Cup 2026 Final: Will Donald Trump present the trophy to the winners of the tournament?
Meanwhile, the winner of the final at the MetLife Stadium will receive the trophy from Trump and Infantino during the on-field presentation. Additionally, they will also take home a prize money of $50 million from the tournament prize pool, which happens to be an increase of $8 million from what Argentina earned after beating France on penalties in the 2022 edition. For the first time in history, the victorious team will also receive a championship ring. The runners-up will get $33 million.
Trump was also notably present for the FIFA Club World Cup that took place last year and was booed before the kick-off. He also stayed on the stage after Chelsea lifted the trophy instead of moving away, making it a hugely awkward moment. He also backed Argentina’s captain Lionel Messi to win the trophy for their side, given it’s quite head to look past him. He said, as quoted by USA Today:
“I thought about it a lot. I knew that was a question. I hate to get involved, even though politically, it doesn’t matter so much. The head of Argentina is a friend of mine, he’s done a terrific job. But 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.”
The 39-year-old will also want to win the golden boot, needing three goals to go past Kylian Mbappe’s tally of 10.
