United States President Donald Trump is set to attend the final of the expanded FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where European giants Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea. His presence at the high-profile event is seen as part of a growing personal and political interest in football, also known as soccer in the United States.
Trump’s attendance is widely viewed as a soft power strategy, aligning with his ambitions to present upcoming global sporting events as highlights of what he has called the Golden Age of America during his second term campaign. The FIFA Club World Cup final will serve as a rehearsal for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which will also be hosted at the MetLife Stadium.
A close relationship between Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino has further drawn the former president into football’s orbit. Infantino, a frequent guest at Trump’s events and even at the White House during his presidency, has publicly praised Trump for his interest and support. In fact, a Club World Cup trophy gifted by Infantino has reportedly been sitting on Trump’s desk at Trump Tower since March.
During a press briefing at FIFA’s new office in Trump Tower on Saturday, Infantino shed more light on Trump’s connection to the sport. He revealed that Trump’s teenage son, Barron, is an avid fan, which has likely influenced the former president’s appreciation for the game.
“Well I think he does like football,” Infantino said. “In his first term there was a soccer goal in the garden of the White House. He told me his son loved the game, and when your child loves something, you love it too.”
While Trump briefly played football during his school days at the New York Military Academy, his recent embrace of the sport stands out in a country where it is still trailing behind American football, basketball and baseball in popularity. However, analysts believe Trump’s fascination has more to do with football’s global appeal and potential for influence than the game itself.
Trump has not missed an opportunity to remind the public that the United States won the bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup during his first presidential term in 2018. Though he was not in office when the tournament was awarded, Trump has embraced the development as part of his political legacy.
Infantino, while thanking Trump for his support, noted the success of the ongoing Club World Cup, which has attracted more than 2.5 million fans across various venues. He added that Trump immediately grasped the importance of both the Club World Cup and the upcoming World Cup.
The FIFA chief also quipped that Trump is especially fond of the trophy itself, with its gold-plated design fitting into the former president’s signature taste in decor.
Trump’s foray into football has not been without controversy. During a White House meeting with players from Italian club Juventus in June, he veered off into a speech on transgender athletes in sports. When he asked if a woman could make the Juventus men’s team, a response from a club official about the strength of their women’s squad was met with a characteristic Trump remark about diplomacy.
Furthermore, Trump’s hardline immigration stance and rhetoric have sparked concerns ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Critics worry that strict visa rules and hostile immigration policies might discourage foreign fans from attending the global showpiece. In May, Vice President JD Vance declared that visitors for the tournament would be welcome but expected to leave the country promptly after the games.
Despite these tensions, Trump’s attendance at Sunday’s final signals a continued effort to position major sporting events as instruments of national pride, political narrative and global visibility. The final whistle on Sunday may end the match, but for Trump, the game is only beginning.
