The 2026 World Cup Final does not belong only to Spain and Argentina.

When the 2026 World Cup trophy is contested at New York Stadium on Monday (20/7) at 02.00 WIB, global attention will not only be fixed on Spain and Argentina. In the honorary stands, the heads of state of the three nations making history as the first ever joint World Cup hosts will watch the conclusion of the tournament they have staged over the past month.

United States President Donald Trump, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum are scheduled to attend this final match. Their presence carries weight that extends far beyond football: it will stand as a symbol marking the conclusion of the first World Cup edition ever co-hosted by three separate countries.

For Claudia Sheinbaum, the decision to attend this final carries its own separate story.

Mexico's first ever female president confirmed her attendance after receiving a direct personal invitation from President Donald Trump.

"I received an invitation from President Trump to attend the World Cup final match this Sunday," Sheinbaum stated, as quoted by Sports Illustrated on Sunday (19/7/2026).

"I have decided to attend as this is a direct invitation from the President of the United States. Prime Minister Carney will also be present. I will be releasing a recorded statement with further details at a later time," she added.

This decision drew public attention, as prior to this, Sheinbaum had opted not to attend any of the 13 World Cup matches hosted on Mexican soil.

At the time, she had publicly stated that exorbitant ticket prices had left large numbers of Mexican citizens unable to experience this biggest global football festival in person. Even while not attending stadium matches, Sheinbaum still showed her support for the El Tri national team by joining public viewing events with supporters during the round of 16 fixtures.

Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had already experienced the atmosphere of the 2026 World Cup much earlier in the tournament.

Carney was present in person at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver for Canada's 6-0 group stage victory over Qatar. His attendance served as a public demonstration of the Canadian government's support for the tournament, which marked the first time the country had co-hosted the World Cup alongside its two neighbours.

For Donald Trump, the 2026 World Cup final also represents an opportunity to appear on one of the world's largest global sporting stages.

FIFA has confirmed that the US President will take part in the official trophy presentation ceremony alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, to hand the World Cup trophy to the winning side once the match concludes.

This role echoes his appearance at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final, where he stood alongside Infantino to present the tournament trophy to Chelsea.

Out on the pitch, Spain and Argentina will battle to decide who earns the right to lift the 2026 World Cup trophy. Off the pitch, the presence of Trump, Carney and Sheinbaum will mark the closing of an entirely new chapter in the history of global football.

When that trophy is finally lifted high, it will not only be the final match that comes to an end. The 2026 World Cup will also draw to a close FIFA's largest ever experiment: uniting the United States, Canada and Mexico as joint hosts on the biggest single stage in world football.