Washington, USA – Multiple media reports indicate that US President Donald Trump will not attend his country’s first match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match will be between the United States and Paraguay on Friday in Los Angeles.
Trump’s absence
Politico and The Athletic, citing informed sources, reported that the president’s schedule does not include attending the game. This was met with official silence from the White House and the State Department, with no comment either confirming or denying the reports.
However, a State Department spokesperson confirmed that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead a high-level delegation representing the administration at the event.
The official delegation, in addition to Rubio, includes Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Homeland Security Secretary Marquin Mullen.
Secretary Rubio’s visit has a political and economic dimension that extends beyond the sporting event. He is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the game with Paraguayan President Santiago Peña to discuss strategic issues including regional security, developing trade relations, and attracting investment. Furthermore, they will explore ways to enhance cooperation in promising technology sectors.
World Cup 2026
This match comes as the United States, along with Mexico and Canada, hosts the largest World Cup in history. For the first time, the tournament features 48 teams competing in 104 matches leading up to the final. Los Angeles Stadium (home of the Rams and Chargers) in Inglewood is scheduled to host two of the US national team’s group stage matches. The US will later face Australia and Turkey.
It is worth noting that the World Cup kicks off today, Thursday, with the highly anticipated opening match between Mexico and South Africa at the iconic Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
While American fans eagerly await their national team’s debut, President Trump’s absence from the opening match in Los Angeles raises questions about the nature of his participation in major sporting events during the tournament. This is particularly significant given the considerable political attention surrounding this massive global event hosted by the United States.
