Donald Trump experienced both the highs and lows of football fandom on Sunday during the final of the FIFA Club World Cup, where he was met with a mix of resounding boos and enthusiastic cheers — even as he joined Chelsea’s jubilant celebrations following their championship win.
The former U.S. president was prominently positioned during the trophy ceremony, smiling widely in his trademark red tie while clapping and jumping alongside the triumphant Chelsea squad. Trump personally handed the gleaming trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James after their victory.
However, just moments before the festive scene, Trump faced a wave of boos from the crowd as he stepped onto the pitch for the presentation alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The stadium quickly raised the volume of its music in an apparent effort to mask the audible disapproval.
Earlier in the evening, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received applause upon their arrival at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, located just outside New York City. But the atmosphere turned mixed once more when Trump appeared on the jumbotron saluting the U.S. national anthem. More boos erupted before the stadium’s camera abruptly cut away from the scene.
Despite the backlash, Trump remained upbeat throughout the event. He distributed medals to the Paris Saint-Germain players and presented the Golden Ball award for best player to Chelsea’s Cole Palmer. The president later described the crowd as “tremendous.”
“We had a great time,” Trump told reporters upon landing at Joint Base Andrews near Washington, D.C., following the match.
His appearance came on the solemn first anniversary of the assassination attempt he survived during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. Trump has made no secret of his intention to use the Club World Cup and the 2026 FIFA World Cup — which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico — as hallmarks of what he calls the “Golden Age of America” in a potential second term.
The 2026 tournament final is also scheduled to be held at MetLife Stadium and will coincide with America’s 250th anniversary of independence. Trump has already launched a White House task force to oversee the preparations and ensure the success of next year’s global event.
Trump shares a close rapport with FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has visited the White House multiple times. Since a March visit from Infantino, Trump has kept the Club World Cup trophy displayed near his desk in the Oval Office.
Infantino, no stranger to dealing with powerful global leaders like Russia’s Vladimir Putin ahead of the 2018 World Cup, expressed appreciation for Trump’s backing during remarks on Saturday. He credited Trump for swiftly recognizing the importance of both the Club World Cup and next year’s tournament.
The FIFA chief even joked that Trump had developed an affection for the trophy itself, noting that its gold-plated design complemented the opulent décor the former president has favored in the Oval Office.
Trump’s interest in football — or “soccer,” as he would call it — also extends to his personal life. His 19-year-old son Barron is a devoted fan, a detail Infantino highlighted at a press conference held at FIFA’s new office inside Trump Tower in New York.
When asked whether Trump genuinely enjoys the sport, Infantino responded, “I think he does. During his first term, there was a soccer goal in the White House garden. He explained to me that his son loved football, and as a parent, you love what your children love — so I think that he loves it.”
Trump himself is said to have briefly played the sport during his time at New York Military Academy, where he spent part of his youth in boarding school.
