Trending 
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez will attend the World Cup final on Sunday as Spain faces defending champions Argentina in a high-profile clash expected to attract global attention, his government has confirmed.
Sanchez will be among several prominent figures at the final in New Jersey, with Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their two daughters also expected to attend, according to the royal palace.
The Spanish leader’s attendance comes amid strained relations with United States President Donald Trump, who is also scheduled to watch the match. Sanchez, a vocal critic of Trump’s policies, will travel to Algeria after the final for an official visit, his cabinet told AFP.
The relationship between Sanchez and Trump has faced several disagreements, including Spain’s refusal to allow the US military to use Spanish bases for its operations in Iran and Sanchez’s criticism of the American operation that removed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump recently described Spain as a “terrible partner in NATO” during an alliance summit in Turkey and said the United States did not “want to do any trade business with Spain anymore”.
Despite those tensions, Sanchez has sought to present ties between both countries as stable. Speaking after the summit, he said relations remained “positive” and dismissed suggestions of hostility between the two leaders.
Sanchez said he had an “informal chat” with Trump about football during the gathering, adding that “there was absolutely no kind of tension”.
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei will not attend the final, citing superstition as the reason for his absence.
The match between Spain and Argentina has brought together football and diplomacy, with political leaders and royalty expected to join millions of fans worldwide watching the tournament’s decisive game.
