'Don't want to go to jail': Spain’s Borja Iglesias says he'll reluctantly shake Trump's hand if they win
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Borja Iglesias has already figured out the one thing he absolutely does not want to do after the FIFA World Cup final, get into trouble for refusing to shake US President Donald Trump's hand.
The Spanish forward, on Saturday, July 18, joked about the possibility of meeting the US president as he prepared for Sunday's final against Argentina, admitting he would reluctantly get through the moment if Spain lifts the trophy.
Should Spain win, Borja Iglesias will be one of the players who will shake President Trump’s hand after the match.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 19, 2026
But Iglesias, who has been openly critical of Trump, made his feelings clear while speaking to Spanish media:
"I hope to greet him at a time when we are all very… pic.twitter.com/8xPp9uaNaY
Borja admits he dreads meeting Trump
Borja Iglesias was speaking to Spanish media ahead of the World Cup final at New Jersey Stadium when he opened up on meeting Trump face-to-face.
“If I don't want to go to prison,” Iglesias said when asked about shaking Trump's hand, according to All Out Soccer.
The Spanish forward then made it clear that the interaction would be less about politics and more about simply surviving an awkward moment.
Borja Iglesias on meeting Trump at the World Cup final:
— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) July 17, 2026
He said he hopes Spain have won, everyone’s happy, the greeting is over as quickly as possible, and then he can forget about it.
Following protocol while making his stance clear. Football needs more figures like him. pic.twitter.com/q31VaIBdZY
“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 said.
Iglesias added that while he would personally “love to do many things,” he did not believe he had the power to change everything around him.
“Even if people think I am all-powerful, I don't have that much power to tackle certain things,” he said.
With Trump expected to attend the match, the possibility of the president taking part in the trophy presentation has added an unusual layer to the biggest game of Iglesias' career.
Borja Iglesias' previous shots at Trump
Iglesias has previously been vocal about his political views, including his support for pro-Palestinian protesters.
He has also spoken out against former Spanish soccer federation president Luis Rubiales, who left his post after kissing a player following Spain's FIFA Women's World Cup triumph.
The forward also addressed his broader disagreement with Trump, saying the president “struggles” with people who fight “for progress and for fundamental values.”
Still, Iglesias insisted the World Cup final was not the moment to turn the handshake into a political showdown.
“I don't think this is the time to create controversy,” he said. “People know perfectly well what I think.”
Trump is scheduled to attend the World Cup final and has already appeared at FIFA's Club World Cup trophy presentation, where he remained on stage during the celebrations.
Now, if Spain defeats Argentina on Sunday, Iglesias could find himself face-to-face with the US president during the trophy ceremony leaving the Spanish star with one very clear plan: shake the hand, survive the moment and move on.
