Trump hears boos at World Cup final after years of jeers
President Donald Trump was booed at the 2026 World Cup final, adding to a run of chilly receptions at sports, theater and political events.
By Georgia Hale · Staff Writer
3 min read
President Donald Trump was met with boos at the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on Sunday, according to Rolling Stone, after appearing on the stadium screens and later stepping onto the pitch during Spain’s trophy celebration.
The final, played between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium, put Trump beside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Yahoo Sports reported before the match that Infantino said Trump would help present the trophy, a break from the usual practice of the FIFA president handling that moment alone.
Rolling Stone reported that fans booed when Trump first appeared on the big screens during the opening ceremonies, then again when he came down to the field after Spain’s win. The magazine said Spain captain Rodrigo Hernández Cascante, known as Rodri, and Infantino appeared to guide Trump away from the stage as the team celebrated. Forbes reported that FIFA later cropped Trump out of celebratory photos.
A run of rough receptions
The World Cup scene followed several recent public appearances where Trump heard boos from crowds, especially at sporting events.
In June, Rolling Stone reported, Trump became the first sitting U.S. president to attend the NBA Finals when he went to Game 3 between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden. The magazine said Knicks owner James Dolan invited him, and that security measures around the visit shut down part of Midtown Manhattan. Video posted by Aaron Rupar on X showed Trump on camera during the national anthem as boos could be heard in the arena.
At the 2025 Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles, Rolling Stone reported that Trump and Ivanka Trump drew boos when shown on the screens at Arrowhead Stadium. NPR reported that some fans cheered as well. Zeteo later reported that Trump skipped the next Super Bowl after publicly citing the distance to San Francisco while privately worrying about possible boos linked to his immigration enforcement policies.
Rolling Stone also pointed to a 2025 NFL game between the Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions, where Trump took part in a live enlistment ceremony. A video posted by Republicans against Trump on X said he was loudly booed at the Commanders game.
Beyond the stadiums
The jeers have not been limited to sports. Rolling Stone reported that Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were booed while taking seats in the president’s box at a Kennedy Center performance of Les Misérables in Washington, D.C. The magazine said some supporters tried to answer with a “U.S.A.” chant, while anti-Trump chants could also be heard.
Trump also drew boos at the 2015 U.S. Open in New York during a quarterfinal between Serena Williams and Venus Williams, according to CNN. A decade later, Rolling Stone reported that he returned to the tournament for the 2025 men’s final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as a guest of Rolex and was booed twice. Awful Announcing posted video on X saying ESPN and ABC showed Trump during the national anthem as boos were audible.
At Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and Washington Nationals, GQ reported that fans booed Trump and chanted “lock him up.” CNN journalist Noah Gray posted on X that Trump received some applause and boos when announced, followed by louder boos when shown on screen.
Rolling Stone also cited the 2018 NCAA college football championship between Alabama and Georgia, where Trump received a mix of cheers and boos, and the 2015 Values Voter Summit, where The Guardian reported conservatives booed him after he called Marco Rubio a “clown.”
This story draws on original reporting from Rolling Stone.