U.S. Secretary of State to Represent America at 2026 World Cup Opener as Trump Skips Match.

President Trump to Miss U.S. Team's Opening Game

According to Novyny.live: U.S. President Donald Trump will not attend the American national team's first match of the 2026 World Cup on June 13 against Paraguay. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the U.S. delegation instead. Paraguay's President Santiago Peña Palacios, however, plans to be present at the game.

Match and Tournament Details

The U.S.-Paraguay match will take place at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The 2026 World Cup is being hosted across three nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico. This tournament marks the first time 48 national teams will compete in a World Cup.

A total of 104 matches are scheduled for the 2026 World Cup, with the final set for July 19. The event has drawn significant interest from both fans and political figures, making Trump's absence from the match a likely topic of media discussion.

Trump's decision to skip the game may signal a shift in how political leaders engage with major sporting events, potentially influencing public perception of the World Cup in the United States. Given the tri-national hosting arrangement, the response from the public and media to the presence—or absence—of key political figures at tournament-related events will be closely watched.