Trump and Spain’s Sánchez meet at FIFA World Cup final after months of diplomatic tension | Today’s news
US President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez came face-to-face on Sunday at the 2026 World Cup final in New Jersey, their first public appearance together after nearly two years of strained diplomatic relations.
According to Euronews, the two leaders greeted each other in the VIP section of the MetLife Stadium before Spain took on Argentina in the tournament final. Also present were King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia and Princesses Leonor and Sofía, along with FIFA President Gianni Infantino and several other world leaders.
The interaction came after months of tension between Washington and Madrid over defense spending and security cooperation, although relations have shown signs of improvement in recent weeks.
Trump’s repeated criticism of Spain
Trump has repeatedly criticized Spain for refusing to commit to NATO’s goal of spending 5 percent of its GDP on defense. At a NATO summit in Ankara earlier this month, he reportedly described Spain as a “terrible partner” and threatened trade retaliation, ordering advisers to consider cutting trade ties with the country.
The relationship further deteriorated after Madrid refused to allow the use of US military bases in Rota and Morón for US operations in Iran. The two governments also disagreed over the war in Gaza, with Spain accusing Israel of committing genocide, which Washington has repeatedly denied.
Despite the tensions, both sides have been trying to mend relations in recent weeks. Spain announced additional defense spending and participated in a joint NATO mission in Finland. Trump later said Spain had “completely redeemed itself” after agreeing to increase its defense commitments.
A few hours before the final, Sánchez congratulated Trump on the 250th anniversary of the United States in an interview with Spanish television RTVE.
Trump arrives by helicopter
The World Cup final briefly brought together several leaders who have had a rocky relationship with Trump, including Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. Sitting next to the US president was Gianni Infantino, a close ally of Trump throughout the tournament.
Trump, who arrived at the stadium by helicopter, was also seen viewing the World Cup trophy before kick-off, breaking the tradition that only the winners of the tournament touch it.
Argentine President Javier Milei, despite his close ties to Trump, skipped the final after saying earlier in the week he would not travel because of the credential, Argentine radio station El Observador reported. Trump described Milei as a “friend” before the match and said it was “hard to bet against Messi”.
