US President Donald Trump will be back in the World Cup spotlight at Sunday's final between Spain and Argentina and with his eye on another hosting gig for America in 2038.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Friday that Trump will sit with him during the final at New York/New Jersey Stadium and will be on hand to present the trophy to the winners, as he did at the Club World Cup last year.
Trump's appearance will come days after he confirmed that he had requested Infantino to review a red card issued to US striker Folarin Balogun, plunging the tournament into a firestorm of controversy.
Trump and Infantino lavished praise on each other on Friday at a reception inside Trump Tower in Manhattan, where FIFA opened an office last year, on the back of the tournament that has enjoyed record-breaking attendances in its biggest-ever edition.
"This World Cup would not have been such a success without you," Infantino told Trump in front of a crowd of about 300 attendees, including Brazilian soccer great Ronaldo, FIFA officials and other dignitaries.
"It turned out we were a soccer country," said Trump, who has regularly hosted Infantino in the White House's Oval Office.
The pair have stood steadfastly by one another through a range of controversies before and during the tournament also co-hosted by Canada and Mexico, with FIFA insisting Trump played no role in Balogun's red-card ban being suspended.
On Friday, Trump suggested the US get another crack at hosting the tournament but, "This time we'll leave Mexico and Canada out."
Fox Sports challenge
Trump's appearance creates unique challenges for US broadcaster Fox Sports, which uses a world feed for match coverage.
"We do take this world feed. So we're not in control of the pictures. And so whether or not there's a cutaway during the match to President Trump sitting next to Gianni Infantino, sitting next to whoever else, that's not our choice one way or the other," said play-by-play announcer John Strong.
"We also don't know when it's coming."
FIFA officially awarded the tournament to co-hosts Canada, Mexico and the US during Trump's first term in 2018, a point of pride for the Republican who has frequently boasted about bringing in the global showpiece.
"When it comes to President Trump, there are no neutral opinions," said Strong.
"There's a lot of people in the audience who are super excited to see him at the game. And there's going to be a lot of people in the audience who maybe are less thrilled to have him on their TV screen."
