U.S. President Donald Trump will attend Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, marking his most visible embrace yet of international football ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The final, featuring Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea, doubles as a test event for next year’s World Cup final at the same venue.
Trump, who has dubbed his second term the “Golden Age of America,” is positioning the tournament, along with the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, as symbolic milestones of U.S. resurgence. His presence underscores a growing alliance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a frequent White House guest during Trump’s first term.
Trump, who received a Club World Cup trophy from Infantino in March, now displays it prominently in the Oval Office. The FIFA chief opened the organisation’s new U.S. headquarters in Trump Tower on Saturday.
Though long considered an outsider to the global game, Trump’s interest is personal. His 19-year-old son Barron is a football enthusiast. “You love what your children love,” Infantino said at the launch. Trump also played soccer briefly while attending the New York Military Academy.
Football still trails American sports in popularity, but Trump sees opportunity. “We won the 2026 bid during my term,” he reminded reporters.
Yet the politics remain. While hosting Juventus at the White House in June, Trump made controversial remarks about gender in sports. Critics have also raised concerns that Trump’s hardline immigration policies may deter international fans in 2026.
In May, Vice President JD Vance clarified,“Visitors are welcome, but they must go home when it’s over.”
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