An international football star affiliated with an Italian club found himself in an unexpected spot on Wednesday. He was positioned behind President Trump as questions arose regarding the Israeli-Iran conflict and other contentious matters.
The globally renowned football club was in Washington, D.C., where they had a match set for the Club World Cup later that evening. But the players probably didn’t predict the delay, considering Trump took the opportunity to weave politics into the discussion.
“Honestly, it was a surprise for me. They told us we had to be there, and I really had no say in it,” remarked Timothy Weah, a player for Juventus and a key member of the U.S. men’s national team.
The Club World Cup serves as a precursor to next year’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Weah later shared his thoughts in an interview, expressing surprise and discomfort regarding the event with Trump.
“Honestly, I was thrown off. It felt a bit odd. When he started discussing politics, particularly about Iran, I just wanted to focus on being a football player,” he said.
Trump often hosts sports teams at the White House, including the Philadelphia Eagles, and is frequently questioned about various domestic and international issues by journalists present at these events.
This may have marked the first time a team from Italy stood behind Trump. Juventus boasts players from diverse backgrounds, including well-known U.S. player Weston McKennie, Serbia’s Dusan Vlahovic, Italy’s Federico Gatti, and Netherlands’ Ten Coupminers, who attended the event.
It remains uncertain how deeply Trump engages with football, despite his notable history and interest in American football, including his previous ownership of a USFL team. At one juncture, he inquired whether the Juventus squad could have a women’s team. When the players didn’t respond, he turned to the team’s general manager, who pointed out Juventus has a strong women’s team.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA, was also present at the White House, not making it his first appearance that day, even though FIFA takes part in the Club World Cup and World Cup.
Infantino talked about major tournaments, balancing discussions about games and media coverage. The Club World Cup trophy spent some time in the Oval Office, getting a close-up view from the desk earlier.
Trump extended his best wishes to the American players during their visit, hoping they would “be the best two players on the field.”
