Donald Trump, the US president who hailed the World Cup as “the most successful they’ve ever had”, has yet to attend a single match – even as the co-hosts advanced to the knockout stages after winning two of three group games. His absence has been conspicuous: Trump played a central role at the draw in Washington DC in December, where Fifa president Gianni Infantino awarded him the inaugural Peace Prize, but when the US opened their campaign against Paraguay in Los Angeles on 12 June, Secretary of State Mark Rubio attended instead. Trump had prioritised an Ultimate Fighting Championship event on the White House lawn two days later, celebrating his 80th birthday and America’s 250th, according to reports. The president, who also referenced the tournament in a rally on the eve of his inauguration last year, has been a regular at other major US sports events – the Super Bowl, the Club World Cup final and the Ryder Cup at Bethpage. But the World Cup has not lured him.
Meanwhile, France face a different kind of disruption. Didier Deschamps has been forced to temporarily leave the squad after the death of his mother, flying back to France for her funeral. The caretaker manager for Friday’s decisive Group I clash against Norway will be Guy Stephan, the long-time assistant who worked with Deschamps at Marseille and later joined Les Bleus. The match, at the Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, kicks off at 8pm UK time (3pm local) and will be broadcast live on ITV1 and STV, with pre-match build-up from 7pm. UK viewers can also stream it free on ITVX and STV Player, or listen on talkSPORT and BBC Radio Five Live, both starting at 7pm. With group permutations still open, France must overcome their manager’s absence to secure progress.
“Trump has yet to attend a World Cup match, while France face Norway without Deschamps after his mother's death.”