Trump Declines to Pick Winner, Praises Messi Ahead of World Cup Final

With the 2026 World Cup final set to kickoff Sunday at MetLife Stadium, high-profile attention is turning toward the matchup between Argentina and Spain. President Donald Trump is expected to attend the event alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, where both will present the trophy to the champion.

In a pre-recorded interview with Fox Sports’ Jenny Taft, Trump stopped short of making an official prediction for the contest. However, he indicated that the prospect of betting against Lionel Messi would be difficult. The 39-year-old Messi is likely playing in his final World Cup appearance, adding a significant narrative layer to the final for viewers.

The interview provides a promotional boost for the broadcaster. Fox Corporation, which operates the Cable Network Programming segment producing and licensing news and sports content, is currently seeing positive market movement. Shares of Fox are trading at $57.62, up 2.8% from the previous close of $56.05. The company holds a market capitalization of approximately $23.47 billion within the Communication Services sector.

Messi enters the final match trailing France’s Kylian Mbappé for the all-time World Cup scoring record by a single goal. Having scored eight of Argentina’s 16 goals during the tournament, Messi has been instrumental in his team’s run. Trump referred to Messi as “one of the greatest” in the sport, alongside Cristiano Ronaldo, noting he received insight on the players from his son, Baron.

The match is scheduled for a 3 p.m. ET start. While Trump noted his friendship with Argentina’s leadership, he maintained a neutral stance on the outcome, emphasizing the difficulty of opposing a player of Messi’s caliber.

What to watch

• Lionel Messi’s performance as he chases the all-time World Cup scoring record.
• Viewership ratings for the final, which will reflect on broadcaster performance.
• Fox Corporation’s stock movement following the conclusion of its major sports rights event.

Source: original release