President Donald Trump will not attend Friday's FIFA World Cup match between the United States and Paraguay in Los Angeles, Politico first reported Wednesday.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio will lead the official U.S. delegation, the State Department announced.

The decision means Trump will miss the first World Cup match hosted on U.S. soil as the United States begins its role as a co-host of the tournament.

Paraguayan President Santiago Pena is expected to attend, with his office announcing a four-day visit to California beginning Thursday.

Trump has frequently highlighted the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as major international events taking place during his presidency, portraying them as opportunities to showcase U.S. influence and economic strength.

His absence comes as foreign leaders begin arriving for tournament-related events.

The administration is also confronting several challenges tied to hosting the expanded 48-team World Cup.

Visa processing concerns, travel logistics for participating nations, and security coordination across multiple host cities have emerged as key issues in the lead-up to the tournament.

The White House has sought to reassure FIFA and participating countries that travel and entry procedures will not disrupt competition.

While Trump is not expected in Los Angeles on Friday, administration officials have indicated he remains engaged with broader World Cup planning and is likely to participate in future tournament events.

The World Cup, which the United States is co-hosting with Canada and Mexico, is expected to draw millions of visitors and represents one of the largest international tests of the Trump administration's diplomatic, security and infrastructure capabilities ahead of the 2028 Olympics.