Spain wins World Cup 2026. Photo: azrin_aziri / Shutterstock.com President Donald Trump praised the 2026 FIFA World Cup as "one of the greatest events of any kind ever held" after the tournament concluded, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking after the competition that saw Spain defeat Argentina 1-0 in the final on July 19 and become the new world champions, Trump highlighted the scale of the event and its impact on the country's image, saying the tournament surpassed anything previously seen in world football.
Photo: Shutterstock"There has never been anything like it, probably in terms of an event, let alone in terms of soccer," Trump said. "I thought it was incredible. It was four times bigger than any FIFA event ever held... it was probably five times, they are actually telling me today."
The president also praised the efforts of organizers, volunteers, and local authorities involved in staging the month-long tournament. "We're very proud of our country. We're very proud of the job that was done by everybody," he said. "This was one of the greatest events of any kind ever held."
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 national teams and was held across dozens of venues throughout North America. Millions of fans attended matches in person, while billions more followed the action around the world.
Trump emphasized that the tournament gave international visitors an opportunity to experience the United States from a different perspective: "All over the world, people have come and they've loved our country, showing off our country in a different light. It was a great event and I'm glad you all enjoyed it."
The expanded format made the 2026 edition the largest World Cup in history, with more matches, more host cities, and a record number of participating nations. The tournament has been widely viewed as a major milestone for football in North America, further boosting the sport's popularity across the region.