In the build-up to the 2026 World Cup it almost felt like wherever FIFA president Gianni Infantino went, the President of the USA, Donald Trump, would be there too.
Trump was handed a special inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the draw for the finals of the tournament in Washington DC at the end of 2025, having missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize.
Infantino said at the draw ceremony: “This is what we want from a leader; a leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment. We want to unite – that’s what we do here today, that’s what we’ll do at the World Cup.
“You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way, but you have obtained it in an incredible way. You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community – or “soccer” community – to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world.”
US President May Only Attend One World Cup Match
Credit: Aaron Schwartz / Pool/Sipa USA
But while Trump was almost everywhere in the build-up to the tournament, it has come as something of a surprise not to see him present of any of the matches now it has got under way. It has even been reported that he may not attend any matches involving four English-speaking nations.
The 2026 tournament is now almost two weeks old and we are getting towards the end of the group stages and edging closer to the business end of the tournament with the knockouts.
And a report in the Telegraph has revealed why the US President has not been spotted so far and why it is unlikely that he will be present for any match until the final on July 19.
Trump is expected to present the trophy at the showpiece final in New Jersey, but will not be seen before that, unless one thing happens – the US team reaches the semi-final, which would be held in Dallas on July 14.
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A well-placed source told the Telegraph: “The president is preoccupied with the US’s July 4 celebrations. The World Cup just isn’t on his radar at the moment. He will give the trophy at the final, but I don’t think we will see him before then. It’s possible he’ll go to a semi-final, but only if the US get that far.”
Trump has birthday celebrations and Independence Day to prepare for
Bonnie Cash / SIPA USA via Reuters Connect
Trump has a number of other things to deal with, as well as the conflict with Iran, with plans for his 80th birthday celebrations and the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
Head of the White House World Cup taskforce Andrew Giuliani said: “I know he’s got a couple of international trips that he has planned as well as Independence Day, so the only thing I’ll tell you about my boss, and I’ve known him for, heck, 30 years, and he’s kind of like an uncle figure to me, he likes a good cliffhanger, right?
“He likes to leave people watching, so all I can tell you is ‘keep tuned in’, and I’m excited to see what the next steps are.”
TRANSFER NEWS: Ben Jacobs reveals Arsenal are set to bid for Morgan Rogers, with Aston Villa valuing the England attacker at £80m–£100m.
In the latest GMS newsletter, Ben Jacobs breaks down why Morgan Rogers has become Arsenal’s number one target, how Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta view his versatility, and why Aston Villa’s PSR situation could shape the deal.
There are also major updates on Arsenal’s wider transfer plans, including Ayyoub Bouaddi, Jeremy Monga, Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola.
Plus, Ben Jacobs has the latest on Liverpool’s push for Yan Diomande, PSG’s involvement, alternative attacking targets, Enzo Fernandez wanting Real Madrid, Manchester United’s interest in Mateus Fernandes, and the midfield battle between Tottenham and Manchester City for Sandro Tonali.
Liverpool want to sign Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig this summer, but getting a deal over the line will not be easy.
The teen sensation is the Reds‘ number one transfer priority in the summer transfer window, with the Anfield outfit needing to strengthen in wide forward areas following the departure of Mohamed Salah and the question marks over Federico Chiesa and Cody Gakpo’s futures.
Diomande has been a shining light for the Ivory Coast at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in America, Canada and Mexico so far, winning the man of the match award for the win over Ecuador and impressing in the 2-1 defeat to Germany.
Leipzig price keeps going up for Diomande
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Liverpool will have to splash big money on the 19-year-old in order to complete a deal, with Leipzig looking for at least €100million to sanction a deal, not that they want to at all.
The German outfit are keen to keep hold of their red-hot forward and have offered him improved contract terms in the hopes of making him stay for at least one more year. The Red Bull side qualified for next season’s Champions League and the hope is that will encourage him to stay put for another year.
Liverpool have already had one bid for the Ivorian turned down, GIVEMESPORT understands it was for €80million plus €20 million in add-ons, so totaling the €100million that the German side were demanding. The Reds are planning to make a second offer in the coming days.
He said: “Liverpool’s perspective is that Diomande is their number one target, but if they cannot get him, and relatively quickly, they’re also prepared to move on.
“It’s not a transfer that Liverpool want to drag on until deadline day, like Alexander Isak when he moved from Newcastle, it’s clarity quickly, and if they can’t get it because the player decides to stay or Leipzig’s price remains at €130million or so, then Liverpool move on to other targets.”
The Diomande alternatives Liverpool could sign this summer
via Reuters
And the Reds already have four other names in the frame when it comes to strengthening their forward line, as revealed by Jacobs.
He continued: “There’s appreciation for Bradley Barcola, so in a backhanded way, if PSG get Diomande, it might open the door for Barcola to move to the Premier League.
“There’s also Matias Fernandez-Pardo [from Lille], Said el Mala [from Koln] and Yankuba Minteh at Brighton, three other names the Reds are looking at.”
Manchester United are in the market to sign a Bundesliga defender in the summer transfer window, according to reports in Germany.
A large percentage of the discourse surrounding United at the moment is around the pursuit of a number of different midfielders.
The Red Devils will likely strengthen in multiple different positions, but it appears that the midfield is a priority position at the moment.
It’s unclear what their next priority will be after bringing in midfielders, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them reinforce the whole squad.
United are back in the Champions League, which means they’ll need a deeper and more competitive squad to deal with the hectic and more difficult fixture schedule.
Signing a centre-back is likely to be low down on United’s shortlist heading into the summer transfer window. Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Leny Yoro, Ayden Heaven and Matthijs de Ligt are Carrick’s current options at the back. It makes little sense to prioritise a move for a new defender unless somebody is set to leave.
Heaven and Yoro are young talents who are yet to reach their full potential, but they are still more than capable of being squad players and making an impact regularly.
If the opportunity arises to bring in a new defender, United might take it, but it feels unlikely that they will go all out to bring one in this summer.
