Summary
US President Donald Trump personally presented World Cup winners’ medals to every member of Spain’s squad following their victory over Argentina, and a professional lip-reader has revealed the message he repeated to each player during the ceremony.
Spain secured the 2026 World Cup title with a 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal against Lionel Scaloni’s side.
Argentina’s task became even more difficult after Enzo Fernandez was sent off in the third minute of stoppage time, forcing the defending champions to finish the match with 10 players.
Although Spain’s triumph was the headline story, the final was also overshadowed by a post-match confrontation that saw Leandro Paredes receive a red card after throwing punches at Gavi.
Trump also found himself at the center of attention during the celebrations after appearing to step into Spain’s trophy-lift moment before FIFA President Gianni Infantino moved him aside.
What Donald Trump Said to Spain’s Players
During the medal presentation, Trump joined Gianni Infantino, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on the podium.
The US President personally handed each Spain player their winners’ medal.
According to Nicola Hickling of LipReader Ltd, who spoke to the Mirror, Trump repeated the same congratulatory message to every player throughout the ceremony.
His words were:
“You are a champ.”
He then followed with:
“Amazing player.”
Despite the celebratory atmosphere for Spain, the reaction inside MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford was noticeably different when Trump and Infantino walked onto the pitch.
Sections of the crowd responded with boos and whistles as the pair carried the World Cup trophy to the presentation stage.
When it came time for Spain captain Rodri to lift the trophy, Trump briefly remained in position before eventually stepping aside, allowing the team’s celebrations to continue uninterrupted.
His involvement was considerably less prominent than during the FIFA Club World Cup Final, when he remained much closer to the celebrations after Chelsea’s victory.
Trump Meets Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez
One of the most talked-about moments away from the match itself came after the final whistle, when Trump was seen shaking hands with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The two leaders had watched the match from behind bulletproof glass alongside King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at MetLife Stadium.
The meeting attracted attention because relations between Trump and Sanchez have been strained in recent months, particularly over Spain’s position regarding US involvement in Iran.
Trump previously criticized Spain, stating:
“Spain is a wasted cause.”
He also added:
“We don’t want to do any trade business with Spain anymore, by the way. I’d like to cut it off. Spain is a terrible partner in NATO.”
Following Spain’s World Cup victory, however, Trump confirmed that he had spoken with Spanish representatives after the match.
According to the US President, he congratulated Spain on its success, saying that he had praised the country for “having a great team.”
Trump also dismissed suggestions of ongoing political friction, insisting that he has “no tension with anybody.”