Trump seen marveling at World Cup trophy as he becomes first sitting US president to attend final

There's something almost funny about watching a president who's built his entire political identity on "America First" stand there wide-eyed over a soccer trophy, but that's exactly what happened at MetLife Stadium on Sunday. Trump becoming the first sitting president to attend a World Cup final isn't a small thing. Say what you want about the man, but he understood the moment for what it was: a chance to put America at the center of a global spectacle instead of watching from the sidelines like we usually do with the world's most popular sport.

That image of Infantino practically waving him over to touch the trophy will get mocked by people who think enthusiasm is embarrassing. It isn't. Leaders show up for things that matter to billions of people outside our borders, and soccer is one of the few genuine global languages left. Previous presidents skipped these moments, treated the World Cup like a curiosity for other countries. Trump showed up, grinned, and put his hands on it.

There's a broader point buried in the theater here. The US co-hosting and now staging the final at MetLife is a real opportunity to show the country can still host the world without turning it into a diplomatic minefield. Presidents get criticized for grandstanding on the global stage, but attending a sporting event surrounded by other heads of state and just being present, visibly enjoying it, is about as low-stakes and high-reward as diplomacy gets. Sometimes showing up is the whole point.