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Spain star says he will reluctantly shake US President Donald Trump's hand at World Cup final: 'I don't want to go to prison'
The Daily Mail ^ | July 19, 2026 | LEWIS BROWNING

Posted on 07/19/2026 8:01:53 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican

Spain striker Borja Iglesias has conceded he will reluctantly shake Donald Trump's hand at the World Cup final because he 'doesn't want to go to prison'.

The United States president will be on hand at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to hand the Jules Rimet trophy to the winners on Sunday, with Spain taking on defending champions Argentina.

It's possible, though, that Trump will meet players from both sides, and that's put Iglesias on edge.

The 33-year-old has regularly made his political views clear, and spoke out during the controversy surrounding former president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation boss Luis Rubiales, who was convicted of sexual assault after forcibly kissing player Jenni Hermoso following the 2023 Women's World Cup final.

Iglesias, who plays for Celta Vigo in his homeland, has also previously backed pro-Palestine protesters, painted his fingernails black in support of Black Lives Matter and has regularly spoken out against homophobia.

Now, he faces the prospect of meeting Trump - something he doesn't seem keen to do.

'I don't want to go to prison,' Iglesias told a local magazine at the prospect. '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.

'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.'

Having scored 18 goals this season for Celta Vigo, Iglesias has made three appearances at the World Cup, totalling 73 minutes as a back-up striker.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: dailyfail; dailymail; frukspam; multiplefrnicks; ukspamonfr
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To: MinorityRepublican

Trump should wear rubber gloves if he shakes this creep’s hand.


81 posted on 07/19/2026 9:59:40 AM PDT by SharpRightTurn (Giving money & power to government is like giving whiskey & car keys to teenage boys. P. J. O'Rourk)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“but the reality is that even if people think I am all-powerful”

. .uh huh .. that’s what we’re all thinking, oh yeah and what is your name again?

I’ll take ‘Things an egocentric, megalomaniacal, solipsistic narcissist would say’ for $100 Alex.


82 posted on 07/19/2026 10:04:16 AM PDT by captmar-vell
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To: MinorityRepublican

LOL the prick is assuming Spain will win..Im rooting for Argentina, I think they will win. I do NOT want Spain, a country that hates Jews, to win anything


83 posted on 07/19/2026 10:16:32 AM PDT by Sarah Barracuda
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To: escapefromboston

Is this guy a tranny? Certainly talks like one.


84 posted on 07/19/2026 10:20:44 AM PDT by Bigg Red ( Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Go Argentina!


85 posted on 07/19/2026 10:21:31 AM PDT by Vision (“Our Democracy” means "Our Slush Fund." The Left is hate.)
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To: vivenne
Drama Queen

It is soccer, so there's that.



86 posted on 07/19/2026 10:21:32 AM PDT by T.B. Yoits
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To: dfwgator
That's a detraction from the sport IMHO.

I brought my son to see Argentina play (I think against Ecuador) several years ago in a friendly in the US. There was a blizzard-like snowstorm, and they were all out there in shorts, making slide tackles. I was very close to Mascherano when he came out for the second half and he had a splint on his finger. He just put it all out there, without regards to the weather and that it was a friendly. Soccer players, maybe particularly of the South American variety, are tough (I guess Brazil divers are maybe an exception).

87 posted on 07/19/2026 10:21:40 AM PDT by neverevergiveup
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To: neverevergiveup

Friendlies tend to be very competitive because the players are fighting for spots on the teams for the big tournaments.

It’s like the NFL Exhibition games, guys are fighting for roster spots and give their all.


88 posted on 07/19/2026 10:23:27 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: vivenne

Sounds like a tranny.


89 posted on 07/19/2026 10:24:59 AM PDT by Bigg Red ( Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Maybe President Trump will refuse to shake his hand.


90 posted on 07/19/2026 10:28:53 AM PDT by Savage Beast (When the student is ready, the teacher appears. When the people are ready, the hero appears.)
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To: Mr. Mojo

I don’t give a flying fig about soccer, but if this little twerp’s team wins, he should not be anywhere near trump. Hope some other team wins. booo Hisss to his team.


91 posted on 07/19/2026 10:29:05 AM PDT by Veto! ((Whatever it is, I'm against it))
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To: Veto!

I’m sure there are at least one or two Argentina players who feel the same way.


92 posted on 07/19/2026 10:30:22 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: captmar-vell

😁


93 posted on 07/19/2026 10:33:53 AM PDT by Bigg Red ( Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.)
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To: MinorityRepublican

Iglesias just gave me a reason to root for Argentina. His comment reveals the utterly warped view of reality that one gets from relying solely on the MSM for one’s news.


94 posted on 07/19/2026 10:34:58 AM PDT by Steve_Seattle1
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To: escapefromboston

I was ready to cheer Spain, but now I am reconsidering.


95 posted on 07/19/2026 10:35:11 AM PDT by AZJeep (sane )
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To: AZJeep

I’m pretty much neutral now.


96 posted on 07/19/2026 10:37:31 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Didn’t Spain just commit national suicide by making a path for illegal Muslims to become citizens?


97 posted on 07/19/2026 10:39:10 AM PDT by Salvavida
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To: AZJeep

Normally I would be anti-Argentina, although I do like Messi a lot.

But all the whining about them not having black players has steered me more in their direction.


98 posted on 07/19/2026 10:39:38 AM PDT by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: MinorityRepublican

Argentina!! Maybe their President will join Trump for the game.


99 posted on 07/19/2026 10:58:55 AM PDT by Midwesterner53
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To: Jamestown1630

Hinckley shot Reagan.


100 posted on 07/19/2026 11:00:29 AM PDT by Ann Archy (Abortion.....the HUMAN Sacrifice to the god of Convenience.)
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