Cole Palmer, the Chelsea star who scored twice in their 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain and was named the tournament’s best player, found his view obstructed as the team lifted the FIFA Club World Cup trophy on Sunday in New Jersey.
Donald Trump stood in front of Palmer, clapping and smiling, while FIFA President Gianni Infantino appeared to make an effort not to block the team’s celebrations.
“I was a bit confused,” Palmer later said. “I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand where we lifted the trophy.”
During the awkward moment, Chelsea captain Reece James reportedly asked Trump, “Are you going to leave?” Later, answering a reporter’s question, James said of Trump’s presence at the match, “It probably highlights how big the tournament is,” though he admitted he didn’t expect Trump to remain front-and-center. “Before they told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage. I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay.”
Infantino tried to get Trump to move out of the way so Palmer and others could enjoy the spotlight, but not before Trump and Bondi got the photo opportunities they desired.
Trump booed as tournament highlights controversies
Trump’s presence at MetLife Stadium was intended to be a celebration for both the U.S. and the sport, as the club tournament final was held at the same venue scheduled to host the World Cup final in 2026.
However, Chelsea and PSG fans seemingly put their rivalries aside and united in their disapproval of Trump, booing him on multiple occasions throughout the evening, including before the match and after.
Trump, who is largely unpopular in Europe and other parts of the world, and Infantino, who took over FIFA in 2016 amid corruption scandals and has since faced accusations of disregarding human rights, have collaborated over the years to promote soccer in the U.S.
A FIFA Club World Cup trophy was seen in Trump’s Oval Office as early as 2018, the year Infantino announced the U.S. would co-host the 2026 international tournament with Canada and Mexico. The Club World Cup trophy also spent time on the President’s desk earlier this year after Infantino presented it to Trump in March. The gold trophy was reportedly used to signal major announcements, “from nuclear warnings to Iran to celebrating the trade deal with Britain,” according to reports. Infantino also stated last week that FIFA had opened an office in Trump Tower in New York City.
The Club World Cup, awarded to the U.S. in 2023, was seen as a test run for the World Cup next year. While Infantino touted it as a “fantastic” event, many disagreed. The club tournament, which was significantly expanded, was largely overshadowed by concerns about scheduling the event over player welfare and human rights issues. “We may have received some justified criticism,” Infantino said at a press conference on Saturday. “There are many elements we can think about, but that will be for later on.”
Trump announced in March the creation of a federal task force to prepare for the 2026 World Cup, but this has not eased concerns from around the world, especially regarding corruption, cost overruns, and human rights issues.
When asked in March about tensions among the North American co-hosts of next year’s tournament, Trump responded, “Tensions are a good thing. It’ll make it more exciting.”
Trump embraces “football” in the U.S.
While many U.S. conservatives have historically disliked soccer, Trump has shown interest in the sport. The Washington Free Beacon, a right-wing media outlet, published a report revealing that Trump played soccer in high school when he was running for the Republican presidential nomination.
“Most patriotic Americans stop playing soccer at around age nine, because it’s lame and rewards weakness. It’s also very popular in Mexico,” the Free Beacon explained. “Soccer games are typically low scoring affairs and, unlike the vast majority of actual sports contests, are permitted to end in a tie. They often do. Free shots on goals are routinely awarded to players who fall down theatrically. Most of the fancy men on the field are not allowed to use their hands, a very important and capable body part. International play is modeled after Barack Obama’s global vision, in which the United States is ‘just another country’ and is happy to secure a zero-zero tie against Togo. The men’s national team has been invaded by foreigners. These are a few of the reasons why soccer is fundamentally un-American.”
Despite the antipathy of many American conservatives, Trump has repeatedly expressed interest in the sport, noting his son Barron’s enthusiasm. “It’s exciting. My son loves soccer, and he loves watching the World Cup,” Trump said. “It’s exciting even if you’re a non-soccer fan. I’m a soccer fan a little bit, but I don’t have much time.”
When asked by a reporter on Sunday after the Club World Cup match if he would consider renaming soccer in the U.S. as “football,” the term used in most other countries but which Americans use for the sport Trump has called “violent,” the U.S. President replied: “I think we could do that.”
Other Administration officials also come under fire
Trump was not the only individual facing scrutiny over the weekend.
At Sunday’s match, he and Infantino were joined in the midfield luxury box by several Administration officials, including Attorney General Pam Bondi. Bondi has faced criticism, including from prominent right-wing Trump supporters, for her handling of the case involving convicted sex offender and accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, whose 2019 death led to conspiracy theories suggesting Bondi’s Justice Department was involved.
Trump defended Bondi amid calls for her resignation or firing in a statement that appeared to contradict the Justice Department’s memo stating there were no further Epstein files to be released. “Why are we giving publicity to Files written by Obama, Crooked Hillary, Comey, Brennan, and the Losers and Criminals of the Biden Administration … They created the Epstein Files,” Trump wrote. “LET PAM BONDI DO HER JOB — SHE’S GREAT! … Let’s keep it that way, and not waste Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.”
Elsewhere, Vice President J.D. Vance was also met with shouts and boos from protesters as he and his family vacationed at Disneyland in California. “Hope you enjoy your family time, @JDVance. The families you’re tearing apart certainly won’t,” one person said in a tweet—referring to the Trump Administration’s immigration policies, including an increased militarized presence in California—to which Vance replied: “Had a great time, thanks.”
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