Trump’s Take on Soccer at FIFA Club World Cup
During an interview at the FIFA Club World Cup final, President Trump made a light-hearted remark about wanting football globally to be referred to as “soccer.”
Attending the finals at MetLife Stadium, Trump witnessed Chelsea FC triumph over Paris Saint-Germain FC, where he was humorously described as “a little upset.” It was an interesting match, for sure.
Although the game didn’t go as he might have hoped, Trump seemed to perk up when reporters suggested the idea of drafting an executive order to officially rename “soccer” in the U.S.
“I think we can do that,” he responded.
The president was invited to the tournament by his long-time friend, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and expressed his enthusiasm for the growth of football in the United States. He wished for the country to achieve similar acclaim in sports as it has in other areas.
“The U.S. has been performing quite well politically and financially. I’ve just been to places like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and there’s been this recognition of America rising,” he noted.
Trump mentioned, “There’s truth to that. We’ve had our issues with the government, but now the U.S. is thriving. I believe football will become popular here as well.”
He also remarked that Infantino should create a new trophy for the Club World Cup, as FIFA left a previous one in the Oval Office back in March—a gift to the president that he likened to his signature golden décor.
Infantino has praised Trump for facilitating the U.S. to host upcoming World Cups, including this final tournament in July 2026.
Trump further spoke about the importance of sports in fostering unity, especially with popular international games like soccer bridging divides between nations.
Lastly, he expressed admiration for the late Brazilian football icon Pele, calling him his personal favorite player and recalling how fortunate he felt to have witnessed Pele in his younger days.
