Donald Trump expected to break major FIFA protocol in potentially awkward World Cup moment

Donald Trump has been given license to join the World Cup winners in their trophy lift, as he did at the Club World Cup.

talkSPORT understands FIFA have no objection to Trump breaking presentation protocol and handing the World Cup trophy directly to the winning captain, and remaining in the thick of the celebrations.

Getty

The US president has already been told FIFA wish him to hand over the World Cup trophy to the eventual champions.

Both Mexican and Canadian officials will be invited to appear at the closing ceremony. 

Trump raised eye-brows at the Club World Cup when he stayed next to Chelsea captain Reece James as he lifted the trophy.

Cole Palmer looked particuarly confused standing right behind the US president, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino tried to initially usher Trump away, only to later encourage him to stay put.

FIFA protocol is usually for the trophy to remain on a plinth and be carried by a member of the winning team onto the celebration podium.

Sources say FIFA will leave it to Trump’s own discretion as to whether he wishes to stay in with the team during the lift or remain with other executives during the ceremony.

White House insiders believe Trump will again choose to celebrate with the victorious team.

Trump did not attend the USMNT’s opening victory over Paraguay due to a scheduling conflict, but is set to be at the World Cup Final at the MetLife Stadium on July 19.

White House sources have not ruled out the president, who turned 80 on Sunday, catching multiple games.

His schedule is constantly subject to change, but Infantino has also informed him he has full license to present the World Cup trophy in any way he sees fit.

GETTY

A World Cup like no other

The lead-up to this tournament has been shrouded in controversy with prices of tickets and refreshments in stadiums irking supporters.

There have also been suggestions that the amount of teams at the World Cup is too much, with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin among those claimed to be critical of it.

The uncertainty over Iran’s participation amid their conflict with the USA brought unwanted headlines to the tournament.

And the decision to deny Somali referee Omar Artan entry into the USA has been a hotly debated topic around the world.

Many across the footballing world have condemned the treatment of Artan, however, executive director of the White House’s Task Force for the World Cup Andrew Giuliani insisted the official’s ban was a justified one.

“There are some things that we can’t talk about,” Giuliani told talkSPORT.

“What I can tell you, from looking at it, is that he’s the only referee, he’s the only non-Irani official, that has been banned from coming into the country for this tournament.

“He was talking to some bad people, very recently, about actions here in the United States.

“I’ll leave it at that. I know CBP (U.S Customs and Border Protection) has made a statement on it.

“What I can tell you from my standpoint, and having seen the information on what he was doing, was that I stand by CBP’s decision. It was the right decision.

“What president Trump has been clear on, is he wants to welcome the world that wants to enjoy the World Cup, that wants to participate and be a part of this World Cup here to the United States of America during this incredible tournament.

“But he’s not going to let the guise of a soccer tournament come in and give bad actors a potential opportunity to take action in the United States.”

When pressed on whether he was saying Artan had possible links to terrorism, even though he claimed to have a valid US visa, Giuliani responded: “Again, I go back to what CBP has said about this.

“What I’ll say is, from my seat, it was absolutely the right decision and I stand by it.”