Trump skips World Cup opener, hosts UFC event instead
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 13, 2026, 12:09 AM
Last updated Jun 13, 2026
President Donald Trump will not attend the United States Men's National Team's World Cup opener against Paraguay on June 13, despite being the leader of one of the host nations. This decision has sparked criticism, as many expect heads of state to attend the opening match of a tournament held in their country. Andrew Giuliani, CEO of the World Cup task force, stated that while Trump’s schedule is tight, he remains engaged with the tournament and may attend other matches. Trump's absence drew backlash on social media, with some suggesting he might be concerned about potential negative reactions from the crowd, particularly in Los Angeles. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to attend the match in Trump's place.
- •Trump skips USMNT World Cup opener on June 13
- •Andrew Giuliani confirms Trump's absence due to tight schedule
- •Trump faced backlash for attending other sporting events
- •Marco Rubio will attend in Trump's place
- •Trump may still appear at other matches during the tournament
- 12:09 AMYahoo Sports — ‘How Patriotic’: Donald Trump sparks outrage with ‘highly unusual’ World Cup move
"United States President Donald Trump made history earlier this week as the first sitting president ever to attend the NBA Finals, and he is set to host a UFC event on the White House lawn on Sunday. However, he will not be attending the United States Men’s National Team’s World Cup opener on Friday night.…
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