It is the grandest show in football, and the most powerful man in the world is coming to watch it.
President Donald Trump will be at MetLife Stadium today as Argentina and Spain face off in the World Cup final — the climax of a tournament that has stopped the globe in its tracks and rewritten the record books in the process.
Trump will be alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for a final that brings the curtain down on a summer of football across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
'Six Billion and Counting'
Speaking alongside Infantino, Trump spelled out the sheer scale of what the world has been watching.
By the time the final whistle sounds later on today, nearly 6 billion viewers will have watched this World Cup. That's a record by many, many times over.
The reaction online has been mixed — some celebrating the tournament as "incredible", others less convinced. But while Mexico and Canada shared hosting duties, the vast majority of the matches have been played on American soil.
FOX's Strong Plays It Down the Middle
Fox broadcaster John Strong knows the cameras will be on Trump as much as the football — and that there is no middle ground when it comes to the 47th president.
"Certainly when it comes to President Trump, there are no neutral opinions. But that means there are a lot of people in the audience who are super excited to see him at the game, and there are going to be a lot of people in the audience who maybe are less thrilled to have him on their TV screen," Strong told reporters on a Friday Zoom call.
"As ever, it's my job to play it down the middle and acknowledge the fact that the United States president being engaged with the sport, being at the game, that's a fun, unique thing... Whatever I say, the tone of my voice will be scrutinised. It will be what it is. That's the nature of it."
Trophy on the Pitch
Infantino first revealed Trump's attendance last month on "Fox & Friends", but it is now official after Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the president will be in the house, calling it "a fitting conclusion to a tournament that showcased America's ability to host the world on the grandest stage."
And the FIFA chief confirmed he and Trump will deliver the trophy to the winning captain on the field — football's ultimate prize, handed over by America's ultimate boss.
"We will be together with the president enjoying the final and handing the trophy to the winner, of course, together," Infantino said.
Spain play Argentina this afternoon at 3pm ET. The match can be seen on FOX.
One trophy. Two nations. Six billion watching. Football's biggest night has arrived.
