Pedro Sánchez attends World Cup final with Donald Trump amid Spain‑US tensions

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will travel to New Jersey on Sunday to watch the 2026 World Cup final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium. He will sit in the honor box alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and other members of the Spanish royal family. Argentine President Javier Milei announced he will not attend the match, citing personal superstition.

Relations between Spain and the United States have been strained in recent months. Sánchez criticised U.S. policy on the Iran‑Israel conflict and rejected Washington’s demand that Spain raise defence spending to 5 % of GDP, a condition voiced by Trump at a NATO summit in Istanbul. Trump threatened to cut trade with Spain and labeled the country a “lost cause,” before moderating his tone on the return flight. Despite the diplomatic chill, no official bilateral meeting is scheduled during the brief visit, which will end with Sánchez flying to Algeria.

At the event, Trump is also set to present the World Cup trophy, marking his first appearance at the tournament. He used the occasion to hint at a future U.S. bid to host the World Cup, joking about a joint bid with China and excluding Canada and Mexico.