Former U.S. President Donald Trump experienced a mix of jeers and jubilation at the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, drawing both boos and cheers from the crowd as he presented the championship trophy to Chelsea FC at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Trump, who attended the match with First Lady Melania Trump, was visibly enthused during the post-match celebrations. Wearing his signature red tie, he clapped and joined the victorious Chelsea squad on stage, handing over the Club World Cup trophy to team captain Reece James amid a flurry of confetti and applause.
However, his appearance was met with audible boos as he walked onto the pitch for the trophy presentation alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The stadium’s sound system appeared to drown out the crowd noise by increasing the volume of the celebratory music.
Earlier in the evening, Trump received a mix of applause and disapproval when he saluted during the U.S. national anthem. The jumbotron briefly showed the former president, but quickly cut away amid audible booing.
Despite the polarized reactions, Trump remained upbeat and described the event as a “great time” when speaking to reporters upon returning to Joint Base Andrews in Washington, D.C.
The event also coincided with the one-year anniversary of an assassination attempt Trump survived during a 2024 election rally in Pennsylvania, adding personal significance to his presence at the match.
Trump has previously expressed his ambition to use global football events, including this year’s Club World Cup and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup, as part of his “Golden Age of America” vision during a potential second term in office. The 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will culminate at the same stadium where Sunday’s final was held—coinciding with the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has enjoyed close ties with Trump, praised the former U.S. leader for his support of global football. “He immediately understood the importance of the Club World Cup and next year’s World Cup,” Infantino said, adding that Trump “certainly loves the trophy,” which has reportedly been displayed in the Oval Office.
Infantino also revealed that Trump’s 19-year-old son, Barron, is an avid football fan. “As a parent, you love what your children love. So I think he loves the game,” the FIFA chief said.
Trump’s own football history includes a brief stint as a high school player at the New York Military Academy. In June, he hosted Italian club Juventus at the White House, where he controversially questioned whether a woman could play on their men’s team. The club’s general manager replied diplomatically, noting their “very good women’s team.”
However, Trump’s stringent immigration policies have sparked concerns over potential barriers for foreign fans attending the 2026 tournament. Vice President JD Vance recently clarified that international visitors would be “welcome to come… but when the time is up, they will have to go home.”
