Marco Rubio Represents Trump at World Cup Debut, Meets Paraguayan President

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio led the official government delegation for Donald Trump at the FIFA World Cup 2026 debut match between the United States and Paraguay.

Rubio attended the game in Los Angeles, representing the U.S. president, who could not be present due to "intense presidential obligations," according to Andrew Giuliani, CEO of the White House World Cup 2026 task force.

Rubio occupied a seat in the honor box alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The official delegation also included Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin.

Beyond the match, Rubio held a meeting with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña. Their discussions focused on regional security, trade, and investment opportunities between the two nations.

The match marked the beginning of the United States' participation in Group D of the 2026 World Cup, a tournament jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Rubio's presence at the stadium was part of the Trump administration's efforts to support and promote the hosting of the global event on U.S. soil.