President Donald Trump made an unannounced appearance at the FIFA World Cup trophy ceremony on Sunday, joining FIFA President Gianni Infantino at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey as Chelsea claimed victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
Trump was seen watching the match from a VIP suite alongside Infantino before both men walked onto the field post-match to present Chelsea captain Reece James with the championship trophy. The moment, captured on video and posted to social media, showed Trump interacting with players and remaining on the field to celebrate the team’s win.
🚨 BREAKING: President Trump was FRONT AND CENTER just now after Chelsea won the FIFA Club World Cup.
He is in his ELEMENT and just had to be there for the trophy lift 🤣 pic.twitter.com/ygoryyqEna
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) July 13, 2025
Audio from the stadium indicated a mixed reception, with audible cheers and boos directed at the president as he participated in the ceremony. Trump has consistently drawn polarized reactions at public events, and this appearance was no exception.
In an interview with sports streaming platform DAZN, Trump commented on the match, calling it “a little bit of an upset” and praising the growth of the sport. “Gianni’s a friend of mine,” Trump said, referring to the FIFA president. “But it’s great to watch. FIFA has done fantastically well, it’s a growing sport, it’s a great sport.”
Trump also awarded Chelsea’s Cole Palmer the 2025 FIFA World Cup Best Player honor, adding a political dimension to what is typically an apolitical ceremony. FIFA has not commented on the decision to include Trump in the presentation.
🚨🏴 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋 | Cole Palmer (23) wins 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Best Player of the Tournament award. Donald Trump hands it to him. 🏆 pic.twitter.com/AFmukBbRgN
— EuroFoot (@eurofootcom) July 13, 2025
The event took place exactly one year after the assassination attempt on Trump’s life in Butler, Pennsylvania, a fact noted in coverage of the event though not officially acknowledged during the broadcast. The timing added symbolic weight to Trump’s presence at the high-profile global sporting event.
While it is not unusual for heads of state or former leaders to attend major international competitions, Trump’s role in the trophy presentation was unexpected and sparked debate online regarding the politicization of sports ceremonies.
