The question of whether former President Donald Trump carries a sports curse has resurfaced after Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup Final. Trump's attendance at the match and his prior comments about Argentinian superstar Lionel Messi have fueled renewed speculation.
In a pre-recorded interview with Fox's Jenny Taft that aired before the final, Trump offered praise for Messi, stating, "I just think it's very hard to bet against Messi. He's great." While he avoided picking a side, his remarks came before Argentina's defeat.
Trump was present at the game and received a mixed reaction at FedEx Field. His interaction with Messi during the medal ceremony was brief.
This incident follows a pattern of teams and athletes experiencing losses after being associated with Trump. The U.S. men's national team exited the World Cup following a 4-1 loss to Belgium. This defeat occurred after Trump had asked FIFA president Gianni Infantino to review a controversial red card issued to Folarin Balogun during the U.S.'s previous match. Although Balogun's one-game ban was suspended, allowing him to play, the U.S. team's run ended shortly after.
The New York Knicks also experienced a loss in Game 3 of the 2026 NBA Finals, their only defeat during the series, which coincided with New York City native Trump attending the game. The 111-115 loss to the San Antonio Spurs ended a 13-game winning streak, leading some Knicks fans to accuse Trump of jinxing the team. Fans even performed a "cleansing" ritual at Madison Square Garden. The Knicks ultimately won the series in five games.
In November 2025, Trump attended a Washington Commanders game where the Detroit Lions defeated the Commanders 44-22. Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown performed a touchdown celebration dubbed the "Trump Dance," for which he later apologized. Following this game, the Lions struggled, losing five of their next eight games and missing the playoffs. Former NFL player Kenny Stills commented on the Lions' subsequent record, attributing it to a "Trump curse."
Additionally, Trump attended the first day of the 2025 Ryder Cup at Bethpage's Black Course. Following the morning rounds, where the U.S. trailed Europe 3-1, Trump expressed optimism, saying, "We're going to get it done. One way or another, we'll get it done." However, the U.S. finished the day down 5 1/2 to 2 1/2, and Europe went on to win the competition 15-13. The president of the PGA of America later apologized for "disrespectful" chants directed at Team Europe during the event.
Here's what to know about a potential Trump sports curse.
The Belgian Football Association mocked the decision on social media after the dominant victory, posting an image of Romalu Lukaku's celebration after the fourth goal and saying, "overturn this."
