New York, July 20: US President Donald Trump and FIFA chief Gianni Infantino faced jeers from spectators upon taking the field to present the World Cup trophy, following Spain’s victory in the final, before the US president attempted to gatecrash Spain’s victory party.

Trump arrived at the stadium on Marine One, with the president’s helicopter first flying over the stadium about 45 minutes before kick-off. He received “scattered boos” following the performance of the U.S. national anthem when Trump was briefly shown on the stadium’s video boards, according to The Guardian.

Trump was seated in a suite behind thick glass with Infantino. Other dignitaries and former players sat nearby, including Spain’s king, Felipe VI, Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, and Mexico’s president, Claudia Sheinbaum.

However, when the US president and Infantino came on to the field for the presentation after Spain clinched victory, boos rang out around the stadium and ambient crowd noise rose to 84 decibels when Trump entered the field.

The situation grew more awkward following the trophy presentation when Trump attempted to remain on the stage to join the Spanish squad’s celebrations.

In a video circulating all over social media, Spain player Rodri initially nudged the US President to step aside before Infantino stepped in to guide him toward the edge of the podium. Despite the intervention, Trump remained standing alongside the players during the team’s victory festivities.

Earlier, the summit clash descended into chaos immediately after the final whistle, with players exchanging punches and Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes grabbing Spain’s Eric Garcia by the throat. Beyond the clash with Garcia, Paredes tackled Gavi to the ground, shoved him in the face, and seemed to kick a boot toward the 21-year-old Barcelona midfielder. At the same time, Molina appeared to swing a punch at Rodri, causing the Spanish captain to stop and angrily confront the Argentine defender.

New York, July 20: Substitute Ferran Torres said destiny was written for Spain to win the World Cup after his extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 victory over 10-man Argentina in the final.

Substitute Ferran Torres said destiny was written for Spain to win the World Cup after his extra-time strike sealed a 1-0 victory over 10-man Argentina in Sunday’s final.

Torres, who replaced Mikel Oyarzabal in the 62nd minute, swept home Nico Williams’ knockdown in the 106th minute to hand Spain its second World Cup title and first since 2010.

“I think in the end the goal came from 47 million people, not just those of us that are here,” said Torres, who hadn’t scored in the tournament before Sunday.

“Today destiny was written, it was made for us to win. We’re far from our people today but we tried to be as close as possible to them.”

The Barcelona forward admitted facing Lionel Messi’s Argentina in the final had been a daunting prospect, but said Spain never doubted its approach.

“Finals are hard. When you have Messi on the opposing team, you do get worried, but we always backed ourselves and tried to show our football and I think we managed to do it once again,” he said.

Torres had come under scrutiny during the tournament before his match-winning intervention on Sunday.

“It was a huge relief [to score],” he said. “I’ve been criticised throughout the whole tournament, but as I said before destiny was written,” he added.

Thiruvananthapuram, July 19: Kerala’s passion for football reached a new high on Sunday as the state government declared a holiday on Monday for all educational institutions, allowing students to stay up and watch the FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina without worrying about attending classes the next morning.

The holiday covers schools under the General Education Department as well as colleges, universities and professional institutions under the Higher Education Department.

The decision was taken following directions from Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan after thousands of football enthusiasts, particularly students, appealed through social media for a holiday.

The final is scheduled to kick off at 12.30 a.m. IST on Monday, making it difficult for students to attend classes after a late-night match.

Football enjoys an unmatched following in Kerala, where the sport is often celebrated with a passion rivalled only by cricket in other parts of the country.

In the days leading up to the final, towns and villages across the state have been transformed into football arenas, with giant cut-outs of international stars towering over roadsides, junctions and playgrounds.

Supporters of Spain and Argentina have erected massive banners, flags and decorative arches, while local fan clubs have organised public screenings, rallies and celebrations, creating a festive atmosphere across Kerala.

The overwhelming response from football fans played a key role in the government’s decision. Several schools in Ernakulam had already announced a holiday on their own after receiving requests from students and parents.

The state government’s announcement brought uniformity to the decision, ensuring that students across Kerala could enjoy the championship match.

Higher Education Minister Roji M. John announced that all higher education institutions, including professional colleges, would remain closed on Monday. He said the decision would enable students to watch one of world football’s biggest sporting events without the inconvenience of travelling to campuses after a sleepless night.

General Education Minister N. Samsudheen also confirmed a holiday for schools under his department through a social media post, opening his message with the playful words, “Happy now, kids?”

He said the government had considered the sentiments of football-loving students before taking the decision.

With public viewing centres, giant screens and football-themed celebrations planned across the state, Kerala is set to witness another unforgettable night as lakhs of fans unite to cheer their favourite teams in the FIFA World Cup final.