Trump May Join World Cup Winners in Trophy Lift, Report Says

A report in Talksport says U.S. President Donald Trump has received unusual permission to join the World Cup winners in lifting the trophy, if the final follows the plan. FIFA would need to alter its protocol to allow Trump to hand the golden trophy to the winning captain and then remain beside the team during the celebrations.

Under the normal ceremony, the trophy stays on a dedicated stand until a player from the winning side, usually the captain, takes it to the podium for the lift. Even without that change, Trump has been asked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to present the trophy to the world champion, while representatives of Mexico and Canada, whose identities have not yet been decided, are also expected to take part in the closing ceremony.

The report recalls that Trump caused embarrassment last year at the Club World Cup, when he presented the trophy to Chelsea's Reece James and stayed next to the players as they celebrated. The image that drew the most attention was Cole Palmer's stunned expression beside the smiling U.S. president.

According to the same report, FIFA would leave it up to Trump whether he wants to remain on the podium or follow the usual ceremony. White House sources reportedly believe he will choose to stay for the lift with the newly crowned world champions. The scenario is being compared to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani placed a black traditional bisht robe on Lionel Messi before Argentina's trophy celebration.