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Donald Trump is set to hand over the World Cup trophy to the winners at the final on 19 July, Gianni Infantino has said.
Infantino and Trump have forged a close relationship in the build-up to these finals, but the US president has barely talked about the tournament since it began on 11 June, and is yet to attend a match.
However, the Fifa president confirmed in an interview with Fox and Friends that the plan is for Trump to play a starring role in the trophy presentation ceremony at the New York New Jersey Stadium, just as he did at last year’s Club World Cup final at the same venue, then called by its usual name, the MetLife Stadium.
“We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course,” Infantino said.
Asked if he and Trump could make the presentation together, Infantino added: “Of course, we are together all the time.”
At the Club World Cup final, the Trump remained on the winners’ podium after handing the trophy to Chelsea’s Reece James.
“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay,” said James afterwards.
Asked what Trump had said to him, James added: “To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn’t hear too much. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment.”
James’s teammate Cole Palmer appeared bemused by the situation. He said afterwards: “I knew he was going to be here, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy. I was a bit confused, yes.”
