World Cup rings for winners as Trump attendance confirmed
Short overview
FIFA will present World Cup rings to the winners of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain, a tradition borrowed from American sports.
FIFA will present World Cup rings to the winners of Sunday's final between Argentina and Spain, a tradition borrowed from American sports such as the NFL's Super Bowl. Thirty rings will be made available to the world champions, and an additional 1,996 rings will go on sale to fans. Each ring will feature a miniature World Cup trophy in its design and an engraving on the band.
Trump's attendance confirmed
US President Donald Trump is confirmed to attend the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he is expected to present the trophy. FIFA President Gianni Infantino had previously stated Trump would attend, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has confirmed the plan. Trump has not attended any of the 102 World Cup games so far, missing all of the USA's matches before their elimination by Belgium in the round of 16.
Weather and air quality concerns
A weather warning has been issued in New York over air quality caused by wildfires in Canada, but there is no indication that the final will be affected.
Controversy over Balogun red card
The relationship between Infantino and Trump has been at the heart of the biggest controversy of this summer's World Cup. Trump called Infantino to seek a review of the red card given to US striker Folarin Balogun. The subsequent decision to suspend Balogun's automatic ban drew heavy criticism, with questions raised about the integrity of the tournament. Balogun was allowed to play in the knockout match against Belgium, but the USA suffered a 4-1 defeat. No other red or yellow cards have been suspended during this World Cup, despite appeals from France and England for reviews of their own incidents.
Trump's history at sporting events
Trump has a history of attending major sporting events, including the Super Bowl, the US Open tennis tournament, the NBA finals, and the Ryder Cup. He has also hosted UFC events at the White House during his two presidential terms. It is not unusual for heads of state in host countries to attend World Cup finals.
Upcoming matches
The USA co-hosted the tournament with Canada and Mexico, with the final two games taking place in the United States. England will face France in Miami on Saturday at 22:00 BST for the third-place match, while Argentina plays Spain on Sunday at 20:00 BST. Both matches will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with live text and radio commentary available on BBC Sounds, BBC Radio 5 Live, and the BBC Sport website and app.
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