At the heart of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, a curious intersection of football culture and politics unfolded, capturing the world’s attention beyond the pitch. Chelsea Football Club made history by defeating the European champions Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, becoming the first team to win the revamped Club World Cup. Yet, the post-match trophy ceremony became a talking point for an unexpected reason: the prolonged presence of United States President Donald Trump on the stage.
The U.S. president, attending the match on the anniversary of his 2024 assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, joined FIFA President Gianni Infantino to present the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. However, unlike traditional protocol where the dignitary hands over the trophy and exits, Trump lingered on the podium, causing visible confusion among Chelsea’s players. James recalled, “To be honest it was quite loud. I couldn't hear too much. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment.”
Cole Palmer, who was instrumental in Chelsea’s victory with two stunning goals and involvement in all three, admitted his surprise at Trump’s extended stay: “I knew he was going to be here but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy. I was a bit confused, yeah.” Fellow defender Levi Colwill also expressed his bewilderment, saying, “They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay.”
Trump’s presence was met with boos from the crowd, many of whom were likely fans from England or France. Despite the mixed reception, the event underscored the growing significance of football in the United States, a country increasingly entwined with the global game.
Beyond the ceremony, the story of the Club World Cup trophy itself added layers to the narrative. A viral video circulated claiming FIFA President Gianni Infantino criticized Trump for allegedly stealing the trophy and breaking long-standing traditions that the original trophy remain at FIFA headquarters in Zurich. The video purported Infantino’s frustration that Trump kept the trophy in the Oval Office, calling it “the most ridiculous day” and lamenting the disruption of football history.
However, fact-checking by Snopes revealed this video to be fabricated. The audio did not match Infantino’s lip movements, and no credible sources corroborated the incendiary statements. In reality, Infantino and Trump appeared to maintain a cordial relationship. In March 2025, Infantino visited the White House to set up a task force for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. An Instagram post from Infantino’s official page highlighted the collaboration, praising the White House’s leadership under Trump and Vice President JD Vance.
Trump himself confirmed in a July 13 interview that FIFA had asked him to hold the trophy temporarily. “We put it in the Oval Office and then I said, ‘When are you going to pick up the trophy?’ and [Infantino] says, ‘We’re never going to pick it up, you can have it forever in the Oval Office, we’re making a new one.’ And they actually made a new one, so that was quite exciting,” Trump said. Photographs from Getty Images in June 2025 showed the trophy proudly displayed in the White House, dispelling rumors that it had been taken without FIFA’s consent.
While the trophy saga played out, the broader conversation about football’s place in American culture continued to evolve. The debate over whether the sport should be called “football” or “soccer” resurfaced prominently during the Club World Cup final weekend. President Trump jokingly suggested he might issue an executive order to have Americans adopt the international term “football” instead of “soccer.” Speaking with host broadcaster DAZN, Trump quipped, “I think I could do that,” though he acknowledged the challenge: “They call it football, we call it soccer. I’m not sure that change could be made very easily.”
Soccer’s roots in the U.S. are complex, with the term “soccer” itself having British origins dating back to the 1880s. The word was derived from “association football,” the sport’s original official name. English Heritage notes that pupils at Harrow School may have coined “soccer” to distinguish it from “footer,” an older form of football. The English Football Association, founded in 1863, codified the rules for association football, setting it apart from other football variants like rugby.
Dr. Stefan Szymanski, a University of Michigan professor and author of “It’s Football, Not Soccer (And Vice Versa),” explained that “soccer” was a British invention and widely used in the UK well into the 20th century. Iconic figures like England’s 1966 World Cup winner Bobby Charlton ran “Bobby Charlton’s Soccer School,” and Manchester United’s legendary manager Matt Busby titled his 1974 autobiography “Soccer at the Top, My Life in Football,” illustrating the interchangeable use of the terms historically.
However, the term “soccer” became stigmatized primarily because of its American usage. Szymanski argues that the distinction is practical: with American football’s massive popularity, the U.S. needed a different term to avoid confusion. Other countries with competing football codes, like Australia and Ireland, also use “soccer” to differentiate from their local football variants, while Canada follows the American model.
Football’s growth in the U.S. is undeniable. The country is set to co-host the FIFA men’s World Cup in 2026 alongside Canada and Mexico, following major tournaments like the 2024 Copa America and the 2025 Club World Cup. The arrival of Lionel Messi at MLS club Inter Miami has injected star power, while the Premier League and Champions League enjoy booming popularity stateside. Even the documentary series “Welcome to Wrexham,” focusing on a Welsh club owned by Hollywood actors, has captivated American audiences.
This expanding footprint might gradually shift American vernacular toward “football,” but as Trump noted, change won’t come overnight. Meanwhile, the Club World Cup final and its aftermath highlighted both the sport’s global reach and its unique intersections with politics and culture.
Chelsea’s historic triumph and the unusual trophy ceremony will be remembered as a defining moment for football in the U.S., symbolizing the sport’s complex identity in a country with its own football traditions. The ongoing collaboration between FIFA and the White House signals a future where soccer’s presence in America is only set to grow stronger, even as debates over its name continue to spark lively conversation.
