Donald Trump made a surprise appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain. The former US President not only attended the match alongside his wife, Melania Trump, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but also took part in the trophy presentation ceremony. The event, held at MetLife Stadium, saw Trump handing out awards to players and referees.
Trump's presence at the match, which Chelsea won 3-0, drew a mixed reaction. While some sections of the crowd cheered his arrival at the stadium, boos were also heard when he was shown on the stadium's screen. The boos grew louder when Trump joined Infantino to present the trophy. Some critics suggest that the boos were related to heightened political tensions and scrutiny surrounding his administration's handling of various issues. Trump's immigration policies and the ongoing controversy involving the Jeffrey Epstein files have also been cited as potential reasons for the negative reception.
Despite the mixed reactions, Trump participated in the awards ceremony. He presented the Golden Ball award to Chelsea's Cole Palmer, the Golden Glove Award to Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, and the Young Player of the Tournament award to PSG's Desire Doue. Trump and Infantino jointly presented the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James.
Trump's appearance at the Club World Cup final occurred on the anniversary of an assassination attempt he survived during a rally in Pennsylvania. It also comes as the US prepares to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico. Trump chairs the White House Task Force for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has expressed his desire to use both the Club World Cup and the upcoming World Cup as symbols of a "Golden Age of America". New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has stated that the state's preparation for the FIFA events includes developing an operations command center and increased coordination with law enforcement. He estimates that the World Cup will generate billions of dollars for New Jersey.
