Donald Trump arrives by helicopter to attend World Cup final alongside Gianni Infantino

Former U.S. President Donald Trump made a high-profile arrival at the World Cup final, landing at the New York New Jersey Stadium via Marine One helicopter about 45 minutes before kickoff.

Trump took his seat in a luxury, glass-enclosed section alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The area also hosted other notable figures, including Spain's King Felipe VI, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum. Organizers, perhaps mindful of past crowd reactions, chose not to display Trump on the stadium's video screens before the match.

This appearance marked Trump's first time attending a World Cup match during the tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He was slated to present the trophy to the winning team, a role previously held by figures like Qatar's emir and Russian President Vladimir Putin at past finals.

Trump's attendance continues a pattern of his presence at major sporting events since his presidency. He has previously attended the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open tennis tournament, the Daytona 500, and golf's Ryder Cup, among others. His appearance at a previous Club World Cup final at the same stadium reportedly drew boos from the crowd.

The article also notes Trump's close relationship with Infantino, mentioning a past instance where Trump called the FIFA president to lobby for a review of a player's suspension, which was subsequently reversed. However, the article links this political influence to the U.S. team's exit from the tournament.