Perhaps what most caught the attention of those following the moment of the Spanish national team being crowned champion of the 2026 World Cup was the players going up onto the platform to stand face to face with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
At first glance it seemed strange, as some players tried to greet Trump quickly, while others tried not to look directly at his face.
One of the most prominent players in this scene was Spaniard Borja Iglesias, whose pre-match comments sparked widespread controversy, as he spoke frankly about the moment he would meet Trump and the possibility of shaking his hand.
Iglesias said: “Honestly, I don’t want to end up in prison, so it’s something I’ve thought about and even imagined. I hope to greet him at a moment when everyone is happy, and that it will pass quickly, and then I’ll forget about it.”
The player added: “I don’t want to cause controversy.”
Iglesias's remarks come amid his public stances in support of the Palestinian people and his condemnation of the war on Gaza.
And it didn't stop there, as social media users shared videos showing Yamin Yamal trying to ignore Trump's handshake, as they put it. Yamal had previously participated this year in raising the Palestinian flag outside the green rectangle, as an expression of his position.
The players have not yet commented on the controversy surrounding these clips.
