Carlos Alcaraz gets special World Cup honour as tennis star carries trophy before Spain’s historic final
ATPMonday, 20 July 2026 at 00:40
Carlos Alcaraz took a break from his rehabilitation schedule to be part of one of the biggest sporting events of the year, as the seven-time Grand Slam champion arrived at MetLife Stadium for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina.
The Spaniard, who has not played a competitive tennis match since April due to the right wrist injury that forced him away from the ATP Tour, was among the many high-profile guests invited to attend the final in New Jersey. Despite being focused on his recovery and return to competition, Alcaraz made time to support his country in a historic match.
Ahead of kick-off, Alcaraz joined South Korean actress and model Hoyeon to present the Louis Vuitton trophy trunk containing the FIFA World Cup Winner’s Trophy, becoming one of the sporting figures involved in the traditional pre-match ceremony.
A passionate football fan, Alcaraz has closely followed Spain’s journey throughout the tournament while recovering away from the tennis courts. The Murcia native is well known for his love of football and regularly supports both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team.
Carlitos ❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/VL28RyIW2s
— f #7inMelbourne (@fvaeey) July 19, 2026
Carlos alcaraz with Louis Vuitton trophy trunk containing the FIFA World Cup Winner’s✨✨✨ pic.twitter.com/Vonm5iH8bf
— f #7inMelbourne (@fvaeey) July 19, 2026
Alcaraz prepares ATP return after injury setback
Alcaraz’s appearance at the World Cup final comes as he continues the final stages of his recovery before returning to professional tennis. The former world No. 1 is expected to make his comeback at the Cincinnati Open, the first Masters 1000 tournament of the North American hard-court swing.
The Spaniard has been sidelined since April, missing the grass-court season and Wimbledon as he focused on recovering from the wrist issue. During that period, Alcaraz has remained connected to sport, following major competitions and supporting Spanish athletes while waiting for his return to the ATP Tour.
His presence in New York–New Jersey added another memorable chapter to his time away from competition, with the tennis star representing Spanish sport on one of football’s biggest stages. Once back on court, Alcaraz will look to quickly regain his rhythm and build momentum ahead of the final months of the season, where he will aim to challenge for more major titles and continue his rivalry with world No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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- Hurry on back Carlos! We miss you!!Rapunzel17-07-2026
- Well done to the author of this article!! A meltdown is what Coco experienced at the US Open the year she was chirping at her box, very near to tears, double faults were in great supply and she simply could not get a handle on that match. THAT AP is a meltdown!!Rapunzel12-07-2026
- This sensible approach helped Muchova... and look where she will find herself tomorrow (Wimbledon Final). Iga's wise to escape... especially to Nature and so. The wilderness (forests, lakes, mountains) has been my "Church" and escape from The Noise since I was a kid. She'll do well in the end.
mandoist10-07-2026 - "Like if it was hotter, I probably would have won, I'm not gonna lie." Geezus...mandoist08-07-2026
- This one has totally lost the plot. She is about to cross the racism line in her hatred for Russian people. NEWSFLASH DARLING -- Russian majority of citizens (and your ex-Colleagues whom you shamed) are not who you should be aiming at. Grow up.mandoist08-07-2026
- Why do all these "experts" feel the need to publicly "tell players" what they need to do, or what they're doing wrong?? How about this -- if you're so concerned with a player's situation actually take the time to contact the team in question and talk directly to them. Yapping in public media is rarely, if ever, helpful.mandoist07-07-2026
- Gee... preferential treatment all the way to the end? STOP IT WTA & WIMPLEDON !!! This entire WILLIAMS CHARADE is 100% unfair to young upcoming players who legitimately earned a shot at a Wildcard. The whole scenario with these freebies to The Williams' is pathetic and barely within the rules (which have been bent like a pretzel to accomodate them). The lamest excuse this time is "...she is a top draw". How does that apply to Wimbledon which is sold-out in advance? Stop enabling this abhorrent "Look at me" behavior. If they want to make believe they can compete -- LET THEM PLAY QUAILIFIERS LIKE EVERYONE ELSE.mandoist06-07-2026
- Is it not clear there is a mental issue here? I mean, her judgement is very suspect given her personal life 'experiences'.mandoist06-07-2026
- Are you kidding me with this soft "article"??? WTF?? Djerkovic should be DISQUALIFIED just as anyone else at WimPledon would have been for his behavior!! So what you should be writing about is how the stuffed shirts on Wimpledon's executive board and ATP can no longer hide, nor lie about, their FAVORITISM. We now have seen (and heard) that, as in politics and world of CEO's, "who" you are can afford Elitists the luxury of escaping the usual penalties according to their own bona fide rules/reg's. Not totally surprising coming from organizations which perform special rule-breaking stunts as giving the undeserving, unranked Williams' some young upcoming player's Wildcards. Neither Williams earned these WC's... let them enter via Qualifiers like anyone else!!!mandoist06-07-2026
- Real fans of the sport, that's who.mandoist06-07-2026
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