UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin opted to skip the 2026 FIFA World Cup final match between Spain and Argentina due to a disagreement with FIFA. The president was meant to attend the game at the New York New Jersey Stadium, with a European side having reached the final.

Ceferin was notably absent from the dignitaries for the game in New York due to a conflict between him and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The Slovenian had several disagreements with the governing body, but the Folarin Balogun decision was the final straw for him.

He had attended the opening game of the 2026 FIFA World Cup between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City and planned to return for the final, as per tradition. He was unsatisfied with how FIFA handled Balogun's case during the Round of 32, and it led him to decide not to be at the final.

Folarin Balogun was shown a straight red card in the Round of 32 game between hosts USA and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He had been adjudged to have committed a serious foul and was sent off, as a result.

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee decided against punishing Balogun after US President Donald Trump interfered by calling Infantino to review the incident. Days after the game, the red card was reviewed and a decision was reached to suspend the punitive ban for the striker.

As a result, he was free to play in the Round of 16 game against Belgium, but was ineffectual as the Red Devils won 4-1. The incident led to a lot of talk about Infantino's handling of FIFA, and Ceferin also disagreed, hence his boycott of the FIFA World Cup final.

US President Donald Trump managed to insert himself into Spain's celebrations as they lifted the FIFA World Cup on Sunday. La Roja defeated Argentina thanks to an extra-time strike from Ferran Torres at the New York New Jersey Stadium.

Trump attended his first game of the summer, and was due to take part in the trophy presentation ceremony. He joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino and other dignitaries to hand out medals to the players from both teams after the game.

Like he did during the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, he handed the trophy to Spain captain Rodri but refused to leave the podium. He stood beside the players applauding as they lifted the trophy, with Infantino also beside him.

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