Trump takes part in Club World Cup ceremony, stays front and center for Chelsea's trophy lift

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — President Donald Trump took part in the trophy presentation at Sunday’s Club World Cup final, and hung around next to Chelsea captain Reece James for the initial lift of the trophy after Chelsea stunned Paris Saint-Germain in a rout.

Trump, who was booed by a significant number of fans here at MetLife Stadium as he walked onstage for the postgame ceremony, initially carried the trophy to James alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Advertisement

Then, in a departure from previous soccer tournaments, Trump remained standing next to James. After a brief exchange of words between the two and Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez — and with others, including Cole Palmer, apparently confused behind them — James lifted the trophy with Trump still front and center, and Infantino a few places away.

Trump clapped and smiled, then hugged and shook hands with Infantino, as Chelsea players jumped up and down. The two presidents then moved to the back of the stage, and eventually exited, as Chelsea players lifted the trophy again and again, with a fireworks show continuing behind them.

Cole Palmer, who had two goals and an assist in the match, said he wasn't surprised Trump was at the ceremony, but didn't understand why he stuck around for the trophy celebration.

Advertisement

"I knew he was going to be here," Palmer said at the postmatch press conference, "but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand where we lift the trophy so I was a bit confused."

It is standard for the head of state of a World Cup host country to be involved in trophy presentations. But typically, they give victorious players the stage to themselves for the trophy lift.

In Qatar, for example, Infantino and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Qatari Emir, presented the World Cup trophy to Lionel Messi. They then stayed off to the side as Messi carried the trophy to a place in front of his Argentina teammates, and lifted it.

FIFA drew criticism that night for allowing Al Thani to drape a traditional Qatari cloak around Messi, and having Messi wear the cloak during the first part of the celebrations.

At the Club World Cup, though, Infantino and Trump went a step further — a sign of their friendship, and the lengths to which Infantino will go to appease Trump, theoretically in exchange for help from the U.S. government in organizing this Club World Cup and next year’s 2026 World Cup.

Advertisement

Sunday’s final at MetLife Stadium was the first and only Club World Cup game that Trump attended. Security measures were tightened, with Secret Service agents stationed around the stadium grounds.

Trump watched the game in a suite alongside Infantino. Also in attendance were former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, media mogul Rupert Murdoch, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Trump was shown briefly on in-stadium video boards prior to the U.S. national anthem — which was played about 10 minutes before kickoff, a departure from previous games — but most fans didn’t notice him. There was only a smattering of boos and whistles.

Trump was then more visible during the trophy ceremony. Boos erupted when he was first shown on the field, and drowned out any cheers. A few more rounds of boos and whistles greeted his image the next few times it was shown on video boards.

Chelsea won the game 3-0 in an upset.