In the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, US President Donald Trump and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez held their first face-to-face meeting, after a long period of bilateral friction. The occasion was the 2026 World Cup final, where Spain faced Argentina.
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The two leaders briefly greeted each other in the arena’s official suite, without entering into substantive talks or reaching any agreement. However, the handshake gesture was widely interpreted as a clear sign of a thaw in relations between Washington and Madrid.
In recent months, relations between the two countries have been strained, mainly due to clashes over defense budgets within the NATO alliance. President Trump has insisted that alliance members raise military spending to 5% of Gross Domestic Product, a target that Sanchez has considered unrealistic.
However, the harsh tones have subsided recently. Trump himself acknowledged that Spain has visibly increased its defense contribution, while Sanchez stressed that his country is respecting the commitments made within the alliance.
The Spanish royal family was also present to support the national team. In the official stand were King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, and Princesses Leonor and Sofia.
Beyond the defense issue, divergences also continue in foreign policy. The United States and Spain hold different stances on the war in Gaza and the situation with Iran, factors that have influenced the climate between the two transatlantic partners.
During the awards ceremony, Trump faced whistles from a portion of the spectators. He participated in the medal presentation, but at one point was escorted off the podium by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, to make way for the celebrations of the champion team.
Although the brief meeting in New Jersey produced no concrete results, it marked the first direct re-encounter between the two leaders after a prolonged phase of political confrontations and is considered a step of symbolic value toward calming tensions.
