The 2026 World Cup final was played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA. US President Donald Trump also watched the match from the stands. The handshake between Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who had been experiencing tension due to defense spending and the Iran war, became the highlight of the World Cup final.
“Elchi” reports that the relationship between the two leaders had become strained, particularly due to discussions within NATO regarding defense spending. Trump frequently criticized the Spanish government for not accepting the goal of allocating 5% of NATO’s gross domestic product to defense and had repeatedly threatened the Madrid administration with trade sanctions.
First meeting after the tension
Despite the strained relations, Trump and Sanchez met in the VIP box before the grand final. Spain’s “El Pais” newspaper reported that the two leaders had a brief meeting before the match. After the match, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez shared a message on his social media account: “We are world champions! Our national team was fantastic. Thank you team!”
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