Why Donald Trump is allowed to hold World Cup trophy as viewers left confused
It's not even the end of the first half and Donald Trump has already got his hands on the World Cup trophy.
Spain and Argentina are going at it in the World Cup final and only one of them will be handed the trophy, but before they get it it's been handed to US President Donald Trump.
That's caused some confusion since many viewers thought it wasn't allowed to touch for people other than those who've earned the right by playing for a World Cup winning team.
"He doesn't have the right to touch it unless his team wins it. Respect history!" people complained online, but this is one of those rare times Trump hasn't actually done something wrong.
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As a head of state he's one of the few people in the world allowed to touch the World Cup trophy, a select group joined only by those in FIFA and the victorious players throughout the tournament's history.
That includes Lionel Messi, since he and several of his Argentina teammates were part of the squad who won it in 2022.
Trump has a self-confessed lack of knowledge about football, having previously admitted he doesn't know how a red card works, but he thinks Argentina is going to win because of Messi.
He told Fox: “Well I knew you were going to ask… I hate to get involved, even though politically it doesn’t matter so much, the head of Argentina is a friend of mine he’s done a terrific job but I would say it’s hard to bet against Messi.
"I watched that pass… it was exactly perfect although it takes some talent to hit the ball off the head coming at that speed… I won’t pick sides I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi."
Who is allowed to touch the World Cup trophy?
It's the most coveted trophy in football and very few people are actually allowed to touch the cup itself, with even on the winning team having strict rules.
In fact, outside of FIFA officials who are responsible for looking after it, barely anyone is permitted to lay hands on it.
Even the team who actually win the match aren't allowed to spend that much time with it after they win.
The victors are allowed to celebrate with the trophy on the pitch, with the captain of the team being handed the trophy.
They are then allowed to take it back to their dressing room where they can celebrate further, but this is where the winning team's contact with the main trophy itself comes to an end.
According to FIFA only their officials, past winners and heads of state are allowed to touch the trophy.
Who broke this rule in the past?
In previous years Nusret Gökçe, known as Salt Bae, courted controversy after touching the trophy in 2022, while singer Rihanna also touched in 2014.
The World Cup trophy lives at FIFA's headquarters in Zurich, and the winning team are not permitted to actually take it with them after they win.
It's not like winning an Olympic medal, and instead the team are allowed to take home the 'FIFA World Cup Winner's Trophy', with a new one of these being made for each tournament.
This is not the fully gold original, but a bronze replica which is gold-plated, and the team can take it back to the football association of the winning country.
However, even this trophy is still technically only on loan, remaining property of the FIFA who can recall it at any time.
As for looking after the original trophy, this has to be transported by special handlers who wear gloves.
FIFA's close guarding of the trophy has sadly been a hard-learned lesson as the Jules Rimet trophy, which went into use in 1930, was stolen on a number of occasions before vanishing altogether.
In 1966, when England last won the World Cup, the Jules Rimet trophy was stolen before a dog called Pickles located it in a hedge.
Under rules laid down by Jules Rimet himself, when Brazil won the World Cup for the third time in 1970 they were allowed to keep the trophy permanently, and the Jules Rimet trophy was then housed there permanently.
But 13 years later in 1983, the trophy was stolen, with some thinking it was melted down for the gold, while others believe it was sold on the black market and still exists.
Either way, it goes to show why FIFA take such extreme precautions in protecting the World Cup trophy.
Additional words by Kit Roberts.
Topics: World Cup, Donald Trump, Football
Joe Harker