The Handshake After the Trade War: Trump and Sánchez Meet at the 2026 World Cup Final

The handshake was widely noted because it came just 11 days after Trump, on July 8, threatened to "cut off all trade" with Madrid over NATO defense spending, branding Spain a "lost cause" .

Spain's 1-0 Victory Over Argentina

Spain defeated defending champion Argentina 1-0 after extra time to win its second men's World Cup title . The match was played on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at 3:00 PM ET .

• Scoreless regulation: The game remained 0-0 through 90 minutes, with Spain dominating possession but unable to break down Argentina's defense, anchored by goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, who made a record 11 saves .
• Extra-time winner: Substitute Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute, firing Spain ahead just 39 seconds after coming on .
• Late drama: Argentina's Enzo Fernández was sent off with a red card in second-half stoppage time (90'+3') .
• Post-match brawl: After the final whistle, as Spanish substitutes rushed the pitch to celebrate, a mass brawl erupted. Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes lashed out at Spanish players, and the scene descended into chaos .

Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain's captain during the medal ceremony .

Broader Context: U.S.-Spain Tensions Over NATO and Trade

The handshake occurred against the backdrop of a bitter, long-running dispute:

Spain's exemption from the 5% GDP target at The Hague summit (June 2025)

• At the NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025, allies agreed to a substantial increase in defense spending, with Trump pressing for a 5% of GDP target .
• Sánchez refused. Days before the summit, on June 22, 2025, he announced Spain had secured a deal with NATO to be exempted from the 5% GDP goal, stating: "Spain will not allocate 5% of its GDP to defense; however, its involvement, significance…" remains vital .
• In response, Trump declared on June 25 that the U.S. would require Spain to "pay double" in trade concessions, effectively threatening to double tariffs on Spanish goods .

Trump's trade halt against Spain (March & July 2026)

• In March 2026, Trump first threatened a comprehensive trade embargo against Spain after it denied the U.S. access to joint military bases for operations related to attacks on Iran, calling Spain "terrible" .
• On July 8, 2026 — just 11 days before the World Cup final — Trump ordered an immediate halt to all trade with Spain, escalating the confrontation even further .
• On July 10, Trump claimed aboard Air Force One that Spain had "come back all the way" and "honored a request for lots of payment," though Spain's government shrugged off this characterization .

Sánchez's consistent opposition
Throughout this period, Sánchez publicly opposed the 5% target, arguing Spain's defense contributions should be measured by strategic value rather than GDP percentage .

The Charged Atmosphere

Booing of Trump
Trump's appearance at the stadium was met with boos from sections of the crowd, reflecting his polarizing presence after weeks of remaining relatively out of the public eye .

Declined handshake by Cristian Romero
During the post-match medal ceremony, Argentina defender Cristian Romero appeared to deliberately skip shaking Trump's hand as the president presented medals to the runners-up, igniting immediate speculation about a political statement .

Absence of Argentine President Javier Milei
Argentine President Javier Milei did not attend the final. No single authoritative source in the returned results explicitly explains his absence, but his non-attendance is noted as part of the broader geopolitical tableau — Milei, a right-wing populist and Trump ally, was notably not present to witness his country's defeat or the Trump-Sánchez handshake.

The Aftermath

On his return to Washington, Trump told reporters he had congratulated Sánchez on Spain's victory and said he has "no tension with anybody" . Whether the brief handshake signals any real thaw in U.S.-Spain relations — or was simply a moment of sports diplomacy — remains unclear. The trade halt ordered on July 8 had not been formally rescinded as of the final's conclusion.