Donald Trump attended the World Cup draw in December. United States president Donald Trump was expected by many to regularly feature at the World Cup. But he is yet to attend a single match, despite the United States team winning two of their three group games, and qualifying for the knockout stages. So is it a surprise? Why may he have stayed away? And will he appear before the final? BBC Sport takes a closer look.

"My fellow Americans, citizens of the world, the United States is honoured to play host to this magnificent celebration. The World Cup has captured the imagination of our country, as has the game itself in the last few years…So I welcome all who have come from all countries and all continents and all who will watch these games in the United States for the next 30 days." The words of president Bill Clinton on 17 June, 1994 at Soldier Field in Chicago when attending the opening match of the first World Cup to be held in the United States. The day is remembered more for Diana Ross' missed 'penalty-kick' during the pre-match festivities than Clinton's address, but his presence now seems more notable.

Because 32 years on, the country is once again staging the event, and yet, with the halfway point of the tournament passed, the current president has stayed away. Earlier this month, Trump hailed the number of tickets sold by FIFA, labelling it "the most successful World Cup they've ever had," and reinforcing the widely-held view that he would be a highly visible and enthusiastic presence. After all, in the build-up, the tournament had seemed very important to him.

He even referenced it, external in an address at a rally staged on the eve of his presidential inauguration early last year. And Trump then played a central role at the draw in Washington DC in December, where he was awarded FIFA's inaugural 'Peace Prize' by the governing body's president Gianni Infantino. The two men have forged a close relationship in recent years, with Infantino welcomed to both the Oval Office and Trump's Florida residence Mar-a-Lago.

Trump has also been a regular presence at several other major sports events in the US during his second term, from the Super Bowl, and last summer's Club World Cup final, to the opening day of golf's Ryder Cup at Bethpage. However, when co-hosts the US played their opening match v Paraguay on 12 June in Los Angeles, following on from an opening ceremony, the president was notable by his absence, with secretary of state Mark Rubio travelling from Washington instead.

It appeared that Trump had prioritised an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event on the White House lawn two days later, celebrating his 80th and America's 250th birthday. This video can not be played. So should it come as a surprise? World Cup hosts' heads of state usually appear at their country's opening match. Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani attended Qatar's first game four years ago, and Vladimir Putin watched Russia's in 2018 in Moscow.

"It's not out of character," says Federico de Jesus, a political strategist and communications expert who served as a media director for former president Barack Obama. "UFC is the sport Trump has cultivated, and with which he has a special relationship," he told BBC Sport. "Also, look at when he has attended other sports events. He went to the Super Bowl [last year in New Orleans], not regular season games. It's the main event - the World Cup final - where the ratings will be. Expect the same again." Indeed, Trump did not attend the next two US matches against Australia (in Seattle) and Turkey (in LA).

De Jesus claims President Obama "would definitely have approached it differently," suggesting that he would have attended the opening ceremony "and been a gracious host and diplomat", but makes the point that Trump is a very different character. He also believes the president may be "wary" after being booed when he became the first US president to attend the NBA Finals in New York earlier this month, especially given "the more international crowd" seen at World Cup matches.

Given the controversy caused by some of his administration's foreign and immigration policies, the president's staff may well have been nervous about the reception he could have received, especially in LA and Seattle, which are both strongly Democrat cities. This video can not be played. Watch: Trump booed during the NBA national anthem. Infantino has confirmed the intention is for Trump to attend the final in New Jersey on 19 July and to present the trophy, and the president has confirmed that he has been asked to do so.

However, Andrew Giuliani - the head of the White House World Cup Task Force - has suggested he may make an appearance before the last game. "One thing I'll tell you about my boss, and the 47th president – I've known him for, geez, close to 30 years now at this point – he likes a cliffhanger," Giuliani said. "He likes to keep you on the edge of your seat. So, all I would just tell people is, tune in, and we'll see some surprises, I'm sure."

To be fair to Trump, his schedule has been exceptionally busy. Around the time of the US team's opening game, he was preparing to travel to France for a G7 summit between June 15 and 17, and was also in negotiations to secure a peace deal with Iran, which was then announced on June 18.

Equally, it is worth noting that while Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney did attend his country's match against Qatar in Vancouver, Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum has said she will not be at any games, drawing attention to the high cost of tickets. Those close to Trump say that just because he is yet to attend a match, it does not mean he is not engaged or involved, making the point that he made a phone call to the US team the day before their opening match.

FIFA is said to be grateful for the ongoing support it has received from the US administration throughout the World Cup, with Secretary of Homeland Security Markwayne Mullin, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy, and Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy all attending matches. And it may well be that as long as Trump himself turns up at the final, and his presence does not dominate proceedings too much, the governing body will be more than happy. But given how much the president has traditionally relished the platform and exposure afforded by such events, do not be surprised if he makes an appearance before then.

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