Overview

• President Trump remained on stage with the Chelsea squad after presenting the trophy at MetLife Stadium on July 13, creating confusion among players and drawing boos from the crowd.
• Trump disclosed that FIFA President Gianni Infantino gifted him the original Club World Cup trophy for display in the Oval Office, prompting FIFA to commission a replica for Chelsea’s celebration.
• In a DAZN interview, Trump said he could issue an executive order to officially rename “soccer” as “football” in the United States, spotlighting political intervention in cultural terminology.
• The episode underscores Trump’s strategy of leveraging high-profile sporting occasions to bolster diplomatic ties and personal branding ahead of the U.S.-Canada-Mexico 2026 World Cup.
• Trump’s growing alliance with Infantino is further evidenced by a new FIFA office in Trump Tower and Infantino’s recent Middle East trip alongside the president.