Trump says Infantino asked him to present World Cup trophy

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino requested he present the trophy to the winner of the North American World Cup on July 19. Trump made the statement during a press encounter at the White House.

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Gianni has done a fantastic job and yes, he asked me to present the cup.

Infantino had previously confirmed on television that the U.S. president would indeed award the cup at the final, to be held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. This follows a notable instance last year when Trump presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea at the same venue, celebrating with the team afterward.

Trump lauded Infantino's work in organizing the tournament, which spans three countries and began on June 11. While acknowledging that soccer does not command the same passion in the U.S. as in other nations, he expressed delight with the World Cup's strong performance metrics. FIFA data indicates near-total stadium sellouts, with average attendance exceeding 60,000 spectators per match.

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Nothing like this has ever been seen. The numbers surpass everything else, and that spirit is tremendous.

"Nothing like this has ever been seen. The numbers surpass everything else, and that spirit is tremendous," Trump remarked. He even jested with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte about the successful performances of the Netherlands and the United States in their respective groups. Trump also noted the high ticket prices, despite the impressive attendance figures.

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Maybe we will play you in the final.