India, July 18 -- The 2026 FIFA World Cup received glowing praise from both US President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino during a joint appearance at the White House ahead of the tournament's final weekend. Infantino thanked Trump and his administration for supporting the event, saying it "would not have been such an incredible success without you." Trump returned the praise, calling it "the most successful sporting event, maybe in the history of the world." Both leaders said the tournament had gone beyond football, pointing to packed stadiums, huge crowds across host cities and a global audience that followed the matches throughout the competition.

Speaking at the event, Gianni Infantino said he had promised Trump back ...