Donald Trump has declared that the Club World Cup trophy, which has become a regular feature in the Oval Office, will remain there permanently, following FIFA’s decision to create a duplicate version for Chelsea after their tournament win on Sunday.
The president, now in his second term, attended the final match alongside several members of his cabinet and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump and Infantino jointly presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James, though Trump’s prominent role in the ceremony reportedly left several players bewildered and Infantino visibly uncomfortable.
Trump speaks on Club World Cup
Speaking to DAZN, the official broadcaster of the Club World Cup, Trump claimed that FIFA had offered to let him keep the trophy indefinitely. “I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? [They said] ‘We’re never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We’re making a new one,’” he said. “And they made a new one. So that was quite exciting, but it is in the Oval [Office] right now.”
It remains unclear whether the two trophies are identical or if the original has been replaced. FIFA has been contacted for clarification but has yet to provide a formal response.
Trump’s involvement with FIFA has grown significantly since his return to office, with the football governing body unveiling the Club World Cup trophy at the White House in March. Since then, the trophy has featured in several events held in the Oval Office.
The president also made headlines during the interview by suggesting he might sign an executive order to rename the sport from “soccer” to “football” in the United States. He further claimed that world leaders have dubbed the US “the hottest country in the world” in terms of economic activity and geopolitical relevance.
Discussing the global impact of football, Trump said: “It’s about unity. It’s about everybody getting together and a lot of love between countries. I guess this is probably the most international sport, so it can bring the world together.”
However, planning for next year’s World Cup, set to take place in the US, has encountered obstacles due to policies introduced under Trump’s second administration. These include renewed travel bans affecting fans from certain countries, heightened immigration enforcement at match venues, and significant delays in visa processing for supporters seeking entry into the country. Notably, athletes and official personnel are currently exempt from these restrictions.
