European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will not be in the stands for the World Cup grand final, where Spain will face Argentina on Sunday, July 19, in New Jersey. The match, which kicks off at 10:00 PM Greek time, is expected to draw the attention of millions of fans worldwide — as well as a host of prominent political figures. Among those expected to attend are United States President Donald Trump, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, and King Felipe VI of Spain.
Despite receiving an invitation, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen chose not to travel to the United States, also missing an opportunity for an informal meeting with Donald Trump. “The President received an invitation to the World Cup final, but due to her particularly busy schedule, she will not be able to attend,” European Commission Chief Spokesperson Paula Pinho told Politico.
Argentine President Javier Milei is also expected to be absent from the grand final. According to reports, he prefers to watch his national team’s matches from home — for good luck.
Von der Leyen’s message ahead of the France vs. Spain semifinal
A few days before the semifinal between France and Spain, Ursula von der Leyen posted a photo on social media holding a football, writing: “Whoever wins tonight, a strong European team will be in the final!”
Spain ultimately prevailed 2–0, securing their place in the final. In the period leading up to the match, the Commission President had carried out a series of international engagements.
She first visited Kyiv, reaffirming the European Union’s support for Ukraine, before traveling to Paris for Bastille Day celebrations.
On Monday, she is expected to return to Brussels, where she will meet with former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, with the main topic of discussion being the strengthening of European economic competitiveness.
As Politico notes, Europe maintains a strong presence in world football, with Italy, Spain, Germany, and France having won four consecutive World Cups from 2006 to 2018, before Argentina claimed the world title in 2022.
According to the same analysis, football remains one of the few fields in which Europe holds a clear advantage over North America and Asia.
