FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that US President Donald Trump will join him in presenting the World Cup trophy to the 2026 champions at the final in New York New Jersey Stadium. The move breaks from recent tournament protocol and places Trump at the centre of football’s biggest occasion, reviving a tradition that has occasionally involved political leaders and royalty.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani's chosen candidates achieved notable victories in the primaries, significantly empowering the progressive faction within the Democratic Party. These triumphs included surprising defeats of incumbents and a crucial win in a pivotal congressional district, indicating a transformation in New York's political dynamics. Mamdani's focus on electing 'better Democrats' committed to the working class contrasts with establishment leaders who minimize the overall impact on the party.
Folarin Balogun has emerged as a key figure in the United States' FIFA World Cup 2026 campaign, but his path to the USMNT began with an unexpected birth in New York after his pregnant mother was unable to return to London. The Arsenal academy graduate, once courted by England and Nigeria, now leads America's attack after choosing to represent the country that granted him citizenship by birth.
