President Donald Trump faced audible boos from soccer fans at the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, July 13, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he participated in the trophy presentation ceremony following Chelsea’s 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
The president and First Lady Melania Trump left their box suite at 5:27 p.m. ET and walked onto the pitch 15 minutes later alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. When the pair appeared on the jumbotron, they were booed again, though there was also some applause, whistling and cheering before the stadium music drowned out the boos.
Earlier in the match, Trump received a mixed reaction from the crowd when he was shown on stadium video boards standing during the U.S. national anthem. The crowd reacted with booing for several seconds, prompting the camera to quickly cut away from the president. The national anthem, which had been played one hour before kickoff at every previous Club World Cup game, was moved to just before the start of the game due to Trump’s presence.
Following the match, Trump stood second in line behind Infantino to congratulate players and coaches. He handed out individual awards, including the young player of the tournament award to PSG’s Désiré Doué, the golden glove to Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, and the golden ball for MVP to Cole Palmer. Trump then placed medals around the necks of all the referees, with fans booing louder when Trump and Infantino posed with the officials for photographs.
The most awkward moment occurred during the trophy presentation when Trump remained on stage after handing the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. While Infantino appeared to try directing the president away from the team, Trump continued to hover as players seemed uncertain whether to begin celebrating.
James indicated that he had been told Trump would present the trophy and then exit the stage, but the president wanted to stay. The Chelsea captain appeared to ask Trump whether he was planning to leave, according to multiple reports. Eventually, James decided to proceed with hoisting the trophy while Trump remained front and center, grinning broadly in his red tie and clapping with the players.
Chelsea star Cole Palmer, who scored two of the team’s three goals and was named player of the tournament, expressed confusion about the situation. Palmer said, “I was a bit confused.” He explained that he knew Trump would be present but did not expect him to remain on the stand during the trophy lift.
Infantino eventually walked Trump to the back of the group so Palmer and other players could enjoy the spotlight, but not before the White House secured the photo opportunities they sought. The unusual image of Chelsea’s squad celebrating with the U.S. president squarely in the middle generated significant attention on social media.
Trump’s entourage at the match included several high-profile guests in his midfield luxury box. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem were present, along with NFL legend Tom Brady and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The Club World Cup trophy, which has been displayed in the Oval Office since Infantino presented it to Trump earlier this year, was also visible in the presidential box.
Security at the stadium was significantly elevated from previous matches, with Secret Service agents posted at stadium gates. Lines to enter moved slowly as temperatures rose to 85 degrees Fahrenheit for the kickoff, which was delayed approximately eight minutes. Trump’s motorcade used a special entrance adjacent to the players’ entrance, with the president and his entourage exiting under a tent with drawn curtains about 30 minutes before the match.
The event took place on the first anniversary of the assassination attempt Trump survived at a Pennsylvania rally. Following the match, Trump told reporters the game was a great upset and called the crowd tremendous. When asked by a reporter whether he would consider renaming soccer as football in the United States, Trump responded that he thought it could be done.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup final is scheduled to take place at the same MetLife Stadium venue, with the United States co-hosting alongside Canada and Mexico. Trump has established a White House task force to ensure the championship proceeds smoothly and has maintained a close relationship with Infantino, who has been a frequent White House visitor.
The Club World Cup final served as a preview of what could occur during next year’s World Cup, with Trump’s presence highlighting the political dimensions that may accompany the tournament. FIFA announced last week that it opened an office in Trump Tower in New York City, further cementing the relationship between the organization and the Trump administration.
