Published On 4/28/2026
Press reports issued by the Royal Court in Sweden revealed that the Swedish monarch, King Carl
According to the same sources, the invitation was within the framework of the high-level preparations supervised by the FIFA President, as the start of the tournament approaches, as he works to prepare a list of VIP guests in the stands, which usually includes prominent political, royal, and sports figures from various parts of the world.
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A “begging” letter from Miami
Details indicate that FIFA President Gianni Infantino sent a lengthy letter from the American city of Miami on April 8, as part of his official invitation to the Swedish monarch, King Carl XVI Gustaf, to attend the 2026 World Cup finals.
According to what the sources reported, the message was drafted in a remarkably celebratory style, and some media readings described it as being lengthy and laden with a high protocol nature, in an attempt to highlight the importance of the presence of royal figures in the largest football event.
The text of the invitation stated: “I am very honored to invite you as a guest of honor, and I would be very grateful if you would join me in one of your national team’s matches,” in reference to FIFA’s desire to enhance the symbolic presence of kings and heads of state during the tournament.
It was also reported that Infantino attached to the letter the schedule and locations of the matches, calling for early coordination between the Swedish royal staff and the FIFA administrative team, in order to arrange the logistical aspects related to attendance in the stands designated for VIPs.
The king refuses the invitation
In his speech, FIFA President Gianni Infantino tried to appeal to the Swedish monarch, King Carl
However, this soft diplomacy did not succeed in changing the position of the Swedish royal court, so the king’s presence remained absent from the 2026 World Cup finals, despite the symbolism that his participation in this global football event would have given.
Contrary to expectations, the response from the Royal Palace was brief and decisive, as Johan Tegel, Deputy Head of the Media Department at the Royal Court, explained that “the king does not have any plans regarding the World Cup,” in a clear indication that the tournament was not included in the list of official obligations of the Swedish monarch.
Teagle stressed that the decision is not related to an emergency or protocol circumstance, but rather reflects a prior trend not to participate in World Cup events, despite the king’s well-known interest in sports and his following of a number of international sporting events.
Regarding the possibility of other members of the royal family attending, the royal official left the door open in a limited way, saying only: “If anything new, we will announce it at the time,” which kept the possibility of royal representation alive but without any official confirmation yet.
