With anticipation building for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has presented U.S. President Donald Trump with the very first ticket to the tournament’s grand finale, scheduled for July 19, 2026, at the MetLife Stadium in New York-New Jersey.
The symbolic handover took place at the White House, with Infantino noting on Instagram that ticket sales for all 104 matches will officially begin on September 10, 2025. Trump’s ticket – Row 1, Seat 1, No. 45/47 – represents a ceremonial kick-off to what promises to be the biggest World Cup yet.
A Tournament of Historic Firsts
The 2026 edition will be the first to feature 48 teams and be hosted across three nations – the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Sixteen venues have already been confirmed, with eleven in the U.S., three in Mexico, and two in Canada.
The Messi-Ronaldo Chapter
But beyond political symbolism, this World Cup carries an emotional storyline – it could mark the final appearance of two of football’s greatest icons: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Both legends, who have dominated the sport for nearly two decades, are expected to grace the grand stage one last time, making the final in New York-New Jersey a potentially historic spectacle.
Fans across the globe are already wondering – could one of them lift the trophy in what might be their farewell match?
Countdown to a Football Carnival
With ticket sales less than a year away, the build-up has officially begun. Infantino, in his statement, summed up the excitement:
“We look forward to hosting President Trump at the showpiece final, along with the millions of fans who will unite to celebrate our beautiful game across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.”
For football enthusiasts, though, the prospect of witnessing Messi and Ronaldo’s swan song on the world’s biggest stage might just make this the most anticipated World Cup of all time.
