Donald Trump will reportedly skip the U.S. Men’s National Team’s opening FIFA World Cup game. The president has not publicly confirmed his plans to attend the game on Friday. Meanwhile, the State Department has announced that Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation to the important game.
Donald Trump reportedly will not attend US Fifa World Cup opening game
Donald Trump will reportedly not be present at the U.S. national soccer team’s opening World Cup game against Paraguay on Friday night in Los Angeles. The State Department issued a press release on June 10, announcing that Marco Rubio will attend the game. However, the statement had no mention of the president.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Los Angeles, California, June 12–13, to lead the U.S. delegation to the U.S. Men’s National Team’s first FIFA World Cup 2026™ game versus Paraguay,” the State Department confirmed. The statement continued, “The delegation will include Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy and Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin.”
Trump has not confirmed whether he will attend the USMNT’s opening game. Meanwhile, four people with direct knowledge of the tournament’s planning, who remain anonymous, reportedly said they do not expect the president to be present at the game. However, the POTUS’s plans may change in the future.
The federal agency further noted, “The FIFA World Cup 2026™ is a landmark moment for the Trump Administration, showcasing American leadership and hospitality to a global audience as the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.”
It also announced that Secretary Rubio will meet with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña on the day “to advance the U.S.-Paraguay strategic partnership spanning regional security, trade and investment, and emerging technology.”
As Trump’s plans to attend the Friday World Cup game remain uncertain, the president most recently flew to New York City to attend Game 3 of the NBA Finals. He arrived at Madison Square Garden on Monday evening, where he was booed by the crowd.
Originally reported by Namrata Ghosh on Mandatory.
