United States President, Donald Trump, praised football stars Cristiano Ronaldo and Harry Kane during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, describing Kane as a “fantastic” player while questioning England’s tactical approach in their World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina.
Speaking alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final between Argentina and Spain, Trump said he was surprised to see England captain Kane operating in a deeper role after the Three Lions took the lead against the defending champions. England eventually suffered a 2-1 defeat, ending their hopes of reaching a first World Cup final since 1966.
“I think Kane is a fantastic player,” Trump said. “I played golf with him, and I like him a lot. He’s a really great player. But when they scored and then made him almost a defensive player, I thought that was a little unusual. You want your best goalscorer where he can hurt the opposition.”
The US president also spoke warmly about Portuguese great Cristiano Ronaldo, describing him as one of football’s all-time icons while reflecting on the global appeal of the tournament.
Trump praised the quality of the competition, saying the World Cup had demonstrated why football remains the world’s most popular sport.
The reception formed part of FIFA’s activities leading into the 2026 World Cup final, with Trump and Infantino celebrating what they described as a highly successful tournament.
Infantino hailed the competition as a historic event that attracted record crowds and global television audiences, while Trump called it “one of the greatest sporting spectacles” ever staged.
