Trump casts World Cup as a U.S. success before Argentina-Spain final

President Donald Trump is preparing to hand the World Cup trophy to the winner of Sunday’s final between Argentina and Spain, closing a tournament his administration is calling a success for the United States. Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York that the event showed the U.S. had become “a soccer country” and that the sport’s rise would continue.

The final comes after more than a year of planning by the White House with co-hosts Canada and Mexico for what The Associated Press described as the largest World Cup to date. The tournament also tested the administration’s hard-line immigration policies, including entry restrictions that affected fans from some qualifying countries, AP reported.

Human rights groups warned about the tournament before it began, according to AP, and organizers faced criticism over high ticket prices. Trump also raised the possibility for months of moving matches away from cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, while local officials and FIFA clashed over transit costs shortly before kickoff.

Visa decisions kept the administration under scrutiny as the first matches approached. AP reported that the U.S. denied entry to a Somali referee who had been recognized for his officiating, and that pressure grew after Trump launched a war with Iran, leaving the administration to address issues involving Iran’s team, fans and support personnel barred from entering the U.S.

Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, told AP that officials had hoped public attention would focus on the matches. He said the tournament produced not only discussion of play on the field but also “cultural moments,” as fans shared accounts online of experiencing U.S. food and customs.

The tournament still produced controversy involving Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino. AP reported that Trump called Infantino earlier this month to ask for a review of a referee decision in the U.S. match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, after forward Folarin Balogun received a red card that would have kept him out of the next match against Belgium.

FIFA later reversed the call, AP reported. Trump told Infantino at Friday’s reception that the decision allowed the U.S. to keep an important player available, though the U.S. went on to lose to Belgium 4-1.

Giuliani told AP the administration had a duty to question the officiating process, citing scrutiny of video review and slow-motion replay. He also said the Trump administration spent billions in federal funding to make the tournament safe, welcoming and fair.

The stakes were broader than this World Cup. AP noted that the U.S. is due to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, and is widely expected to receive the 2031 Women’s World Cup.

Sen. Andy Kim, a New Jersey Democrat whose state is hosting the final, told AP that the tournament’s logistics had mostly worked despite some issues, including transit. Kim said the excitement around the event had outweighed the downsides.

The World Cup also unfolded during strained U.S. relations with Canada and Mexico. AP reported that Trump imposed stiff tariffs on both countries after returning to office and chose not to renew the three-country trade pact, setting up new negotiations.

Trump on Friday threatened tariffs on Canada over wildfires that have affected air quality in parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey, AP reported. He also joked that FIFA should bring the World Cup back to the U.S. soon and leave Mexico and Canada out next time.

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney plan to attend the final at Trump’s request, according to AP. Sheinbaum said she accepted because the invitation came directly from the U.S. president and said Carney would also be there.

Trump has not publicly said whether he favors Argentina or Spain. AP reported that Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez plans to attend, while Argentine President Javier Milei will stay home, citing superstition.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.