Will Soccer Be Officially Renamed “Football” in the US? Donald Trump Clears the Air Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

The FIFA Club World Cup final was attended by key US figures like Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and AG Pam Bondi among others.

Will Soccer Be Officially Renamed “Football” in the US? Donald Trump Clears the Air Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

Donald Trump (Image via Imago)

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The FIFA Club World Cup came to a conclusion on Sunday as The Blues from Stamford Bridge took home the title, defeating the UEFA Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain in the final. The month-long tournament was nothing short of a new era in soccer, with unbelievable upsets and a pot-pourri of difficult storylines.

After an almost-silent group stage, the FIFA Club World Cup started to see crowds in the knockouts and worldwide attention. The game, probably the fifth-most popular in the States, was a newfound realization for a majority of Americans, including the country’s president, Donald Trump. The sitting president was invited by the FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

In fact, the septuagenarian was reveling in the celebrations so much that he forgot to move after giving the trophy away. Or so much that he might as well change the name of the game in the States.

The President was asked by a reporter about introducing an executive order to call soccer ‘football’ like the rest of the world. He responded positively, saying, “I think we could do that,” he told DAZN.

He also reflected on the rise of soccer as a sport in the United States. He used it as a metaphor for the country’s resurgence on the global stage as well as expressed optimism that the US could soon become a global powerhouse in soccer, just as it has, in his view, regained strength in politics and finance.

The United States, along with Canada and Mexico, will host the FIFA World Cup 2026. The stadiums used for the FIFA Club World Cup will be used for the highest-ranked tournament in men’s association football. The country is set to receive a huge number of fans and tourists who bring money to the US economy.

The Club World Cup final was quite the eventful spectacle for Donald Trump

The President, who arrived with his wife, Melania Trump, was initially cheered on by the fans at the MetLife Stadium. However, the warm welcome didn’t last long.

A visibly confused Cole Palmer is seen in the background while Donald Trump stays on the podium amid Chelsea’s celebrations.
A visibly confused Cole Palmer is seen in the background while Donald Trump stays on the podium amid Chelsea’s celebrations. (Image via News.com.au)

The Star Spangled Banner was played in the stadium, the first a host nation’s anthem was played in a FIFA club match. During the same, Donald Trump was shown on the cameras and the crowd started booing him. The boos didn’t stop there either.

The septuagenarian President was met with equally loud boos while he was presenting the medals to the players. More so, he was also presented with a winner’s medal, which has sparked some backlash and confusion. To add to it, the way he had tucked it in his pant pockets was also a bit awkward. However, the most weird aspect was the trophy awarding.

While Gianni Infantino moved away from the dais after giving away the trophy, Trump stayed. The act caused some confusion among the players about whether they were to celebrate after the president left or with him on the stage. Cole Palmer, who struck two on the opponent’s net to give them the early lead, was visibly perplexed.

I knew he was going to be here, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused.

Cole Palmer said in a post-match conference

It was only after goalkeeper Robert Sanchez motioned for Reece James to proceed that the players started celebrating. Maybe the President wanted some golden confetti, too.

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