MADRID (Reuters) – Borja Iglesias, Spain’s starting goalkeeper, sparked a global social media firestorm on July 18, 2026, by joking he would only shake U.S. President Donald Trump’s hand “to avoid prison.” The comment, made during a pre-match press conference before the FIFA World Cup final against Argentina, instantly went viral. It generated over 50 million views on X within 24 hours.
The quip was a direct response to a question about Trump’s expected attendance at the final in New Jersey. “I don’t want to go to jail,” Iglesias said, according to the Times of India. The clip, reposted by Yahoo Sports under the headline “World Cup star says he will only shake Donald Trump’s hand ‘to avoid prison,’” became the top-trending sports story globally.
💡 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Q: What did Spain’s goalkeeper Borja Iglesias say about Donald Trump?
- A: He joked he would only shake Trump’s hand ‘to avoid prison’ during a pre-match press conference before the 2026 World Cup final.
- Q: How did the joke go viral?
- A: The clip was shared by Yahoo Sports and the Times of India, generating over 50 million views on X within 24 hours.
- Q: Why did the joke attract so much attention?
- A: It combined a high-stakes sports event with a controversial political figure, creating a bizarre and humorous narrative that resonated globally.