Cristian Romero refuses to shake Donald Trump's hand at 2026 World Cup ceremony

During the medal ceremony after the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on 20 July 2026 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Argentina’s defender Cristian Romero, then a Tottenham player, received his silver medal but did not shake the hand of U.S. President Donald Trump. Romero did shake hands with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney before leaving the podium. The gesture sparked a wave of online commentary, with some praising it as a political statement and others calling it disrespectful. Media outlets noted that Trump and Infantino were later edited out of some official group photos of the Spanish champions. Spain won the final 1‑0 after extra time, defeating Argentina, and the ceremony highlighted the intersection of sport and politics.