Many anticipated the regular presence of former US President Donald Trump at the World Cup matches, yet he has not attended a single game. This is despite the US team winning two out of three group-stage matches and advancing to the knockout rounds.
Is this surprising, and why might he have stayed away? Will he appear before the final match? BBC Sport conducted a closer look at the situation, especially as the US hosts the tournament again after 32 years. Even as the competition surpasses its midpoint, Trump's absence remains notable.
Earlier this month, Trump praised the number of tickets sold by FIFA, describing the tournament as the "most successful World Cup they have ever had," fueling assumptions that he would be an enthusiastic and visible attendee.
During preparations, the tournament seemed significant to him; he even referenced it in a speech at an electoral rally held on the eve of his inauguration last year.
Trump played a pivotal role in the tournament draw held in Washington, D.C., in December, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented him with FIFA's first Peace Award.
The two have built a close relationship in recent years, with Infantino visiting Trump in the Oval Office and at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida.
Trump has also attended several major sporting events in the US during his second term, from the Super Bowl and the Club World Cup final last summer to the Ryder Cup's opening day of golf in Bethpage.
However, when the US, one of the host countries, played its opening match against Paraguay on June 12 in Los Angeles following the opening ceremony, Trump's absence was conspicuous, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio traveling from Washington instead.
Trump seemed to prefer attending a mixed martial arts event at the White House Garden two days later, celebrating his 80th birthday and the 250th anniversary of the US.
Should this be surprising? Typically, heads of hosting states attend their national teams' opening matches. For instance, Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended his country's first match four years ago, and Vladimir Putin watched Russia's opening game in Moscow in 2018.
Federico de Jesús, a political expert and former media director for President Barack Obama, notes: This behavior is not out of character. UFC is a sport Trump has worked to establish a connection with, and he has a special relationship with it. Also, look at the timing of his attendance at other sports events. He went to the Super Bowl last year in New Orleans, not regular season games. The main event, i.e., the World Cup final, is where viewership peaks. Expect the same pattern again.
Indeed, Trump did not attend the US's subsequent matches against Australia in Seattle and Turkey in Los Angeles.
De Jesús believes President Obama "would certainly have handled it differently," suggesting he would have attended the opening ceremony "and been a gracious diplomatic host." However, he notes that Trump is a completely different character, pointing out that he missed his eldest son's wedding last month due to "government-related circumstances."
The president may be cautious after being booed when he became the first US president to attend the NBA Finals in New York earlier this month, given more international audiences at World Cup matches.
Considering the controversy from some of his foreign policies and immigration measures, the Trump team's concern over the reception he might receive, especially in Democrat-leaning cities like Los Angeles and Seattle, could be valid.
Will Trump appear before the final match?
Infantino stated that Trump is expected to attend the final in New Jersey on July 19 and present the trophy. The president also confirmed that he was asked to do so, but Andrew Giuliani, head of the White House World Cup task force, hinted that he might appear before the last match.
Giuliani told The Telegraph this week: Here's something I'll say about my boss, the 47th president; I've known him for almost 30 years now, and he loves the suspense. So all I'll say to people is: stay tuned, and we'll see some surprises, I'm confident of it.
Trump's confidants assert that not attending any matches so far doesn't mean he is uninterested or uninvolved, noting that he called the US team the day before their opening match.
BBC added that FIFA might be entirely satisfied as long as Trump appears at the final, provided his presence doesn't overshadow the event.