Spanish goalkeeper Borja Iglesias is set to play in the biggest match of his career—the World Cup final against Argentina on Sunday, July 19, 2026, at the New York/New Jersey Stadium. Should Spain win the tournament, Iglesias would be among the players expected to shake hands with President Donald Trump after the match.

However, Iglesias expressed reluctance about this tradition during a conversation with Spanish media on Saturday, July 18, 2026. Citing concerns, he said, "I don't want to go to prison," referring to the handshake, as reported by All Out Soccer. He added, "I hope to greet him at a time when we are all very happy, and that it passes very quickly and I can forget about it."

Iglesias is known for his outspoken views, having previously supported pro-Palestinian protesters and criticized the former Spanish soccer federation boss over controversial conduct during the FIFA Women’s World Cup. He also remarked that he believes President Trump "struggles" with people who fight "for progress and for fundamental values."

Despite his views, Iglesias stated, "I don't think this is the time to create controversy. People know perfectly well what I think. I would love to do many things, but the reality is that even if people think I am all-powerful, I don't have that much power to tackle certain things."

President Donald Trump was previously awarded the FIFA Peace Prize by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw.

Sources