Spanish goalkeeper Borja Iglesias is preparing for the most significant match of his professional life: the World Cup final against Argentina, scheduled for Sunday afternoon at New York/New Jersey Stadium.
Should Spain emerge victorious, Iglesias would be among the players expected to greet President Donald Trump following the game. However, Iglesias is known to hold reservations about the former president and openly conveyed these sentiments during a discussion with Spanish media on Saturday.
"I don't want to go to prison," Iglesias remarked, referring to the prospect of shaking Trump’s hand, according to reports from All Out Soccer. "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."
He further elaborated on his perspective, stating,
"I don't think this is the time to create controversy. People know perfectly well what I think. I would love to do many things, but the reality is that even if people think I am all-powerful, I don't have that much power to tackle certain things."
Goalkeeper's Prior Stances and Presidential Presence
Iglesias has a history of publicly expressing his views on various issues. He has previously shown support for pro-Palestinian demonstrators and was a vocal critic of the former head of the Spanish soccer federation, who resigned after an incident involving kissing a player following the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The goalkeeper also commented that he believes President Trump "struggles" with individuals who advocate "for progress and for fundamental values."
President Trump is anticipated to be present at the World Cup final. He has previously participated in trophy presentations, including at the FIFA Club World Cup, where he remained on stage for the celebration ceremony.
The World Cup final between Spain and Argentina is set to kick off on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. ET.
