Trump plays down ‘Make Spain Great Again’ storm over Ferran Torres World Cup cap

Donald Trump has dismissed suggestions that Ferran Torres was mocking him by wearing a “Make Spain Great Again” cap during Spain’s World Cup 2026 title celebrations, describing it instead as a “beautiful tribute” to his MAGA movement.

The former US president intervened after days of debate in Spain and the United States over the hat worn by the Spain forward in Madrid, where the squad were celebrating their 1-0 extra-time victory over Argentina in the World Cup final.

Torres, who scored the decisive goal in that final, was seen wearing a cap emblazoned with the slogan “Make Spain Great Again” – a clear echo of Trump’s well-known campaign phrase “Make America Great Again” (MAGA).

The image quickly fuelled a fierce argument in Spain, with some interpreting the gesture as a deliberate political message or a sign of sympathy with right-wing politics, while others insisted it was a joke or a dig at Trump’s prominent appearance during the World Cup trophy presentation.

Torres, currently on holiday, has not issued any comment to explain why he chose to wear the cap, leaving room for competing interpretations on both sides of the Atlantic about his intentions.

Political row around Torres deepens

The controversy soon spilled into Spain’s already polarised political arena, not least because the right-wing Vox party had previously used a similar slogan in the build-up to the World Cup.

Figures associated with the right moved quickly to defend the Barcelona forward, arguing that he was being unfairly targeted, while politicians and commentators from left-leaning parties voiced sharp criticism of the player’s choice of headwear.

Karina Michias, a member of parliament, rejected the attacks on Torres, saying: “الغيرة كانت دايما وقود اصحاب العقول الصغيرة. بينما ينشغل البعض بالانتقاد، يرد فيران توريس في المكان الاهم… داخل الملعب”.

Separately, the debate around the player intensified after a mural of Torres was vandalised with the phrase “اللعنة على اسبانيا” (“damn Spain”), underlining the depth of feeling his gesture had stirred.

White House social media post and Trump reaction

The story then reached Washington, when the official White House account on X (formerly Twitter) posted: “الجميع يريد ان يكون جزءا من الحركة” – “everyone wants to be part of the movement” – a reference to the MAGA slogan and the growing global visibility of the brand.

Amid the mounting attention, Trump was asked at a press conference in Washington to respond directly to the row over Torres’ celebrations. According to French outlet RMC, he replied: “انه لاعب رايع. لقد ارتدى قبعة (لنجعل امريكا عظيمة مجددا). كانت لفتة رايعة، واعتقد انه فعل ذلك بحسن نية. نحن نقدر ذلك”.

With those remarks, Trump made clear he did not see the Spain international’s choice as ridicule or satire. Instead, he framed it as a positive, good-faith gesture aligned with the political slogan that has defined his movement.

Trump’s comments are likely to ease any suggestion of personal offence in the United States, but they are unlikely to end the argument in Spain, where the intersection of football, politics and national identity continues to provoke strong and divided reactions.

For now, without any clarification from Torres himself, the meaning behind the “Make Spain Great Again” cap remains open to interpretation – even as the player’s decisive contribution on the pitch in the World Cup final is not in doubt.