Will Donald Trump attend the 2026 World Cup opening? What he said after sending a message to the US

Donald Trump will not be present at the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Cup in California, despite the United States co-hosting the event. The U.S. team is set to debut against Paraguay on June 12th, with an opening ceremony planned in Los Angeles.

Andrew Giuliani, the CEO of the White House task force for the World Cup, confirmed Trump's absence, citing the president's demanding schedule in the coming days. "He's not going to be able to attend the inaugural match," Giuliani stated. "The president has a very tight schedule."

Despite his inability to attend the opening, Giuliani indicated that Trump remains engaged with the tournament. "I know he's going to be very involved throughout this 2026 World Cup," he added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony in Trump's stead, representing his administration.

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He's not going to be able to attend the inaugural match. The president has a very tight schedule.

Giuliani also hinted at the possibility of Trump making a later appearance during the competition. "One thing, having known Donald Trump for over three decades, what I can tell you is: expect the unexpected. Always expect a suspenseful ending with him," Giuliani commented. He suggested that Trump's involvement might increase as the tournament progresses, especially in its final stages.

Earlier, the U.S. president surprised the national team with a phone call hours before their World Cup 2026 participation. This gesture, along with Giuliani's remarks, leaves open the possibility of Trump attending other matches, even though his absence from the U.S. debut is confirmed. The delegation attending the opening ceremony will also include Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.

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But one thing, having known Donald Trump for over three decades, what I can tell you is: expect the unexpected. Always expect a suspenseful ending with him.