U.S. President Donald Trump is set to attend Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium, where Paris Saint-Germain will face Chelsea.
The final marks the culmination of the newly expanded Club World Cup and serves as a test run for the 2026 World Cup final, also scheduled to be held at the same venue.
Trump’s appearance highlights his administration’s ongoing use of major global sporting events—including the Club World Cup and the upcoming 2028 Los Angeles Olympics—as platforms to promote what he calls the “Golden Age of America” during his second term.
A key factor in his involvement is his close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a frequent visitor to the White House.
Trump has even kept a replica of the Club World Cup trophy on his desk since Infantino presented it to him during a March visit.
Trump’s interest in football (or soccer, as he refers to it) also has a personal angle. His 19-year-old son Barron is an avid fan, a point Infantino emphasized during a press conference Saturday at FIFA’s new office in Trump Tower, New York.
Asked whether Trump truly liked the sport, Infantino said: “Well, I think he does. During his first term, there was a soccer goal in the White House garden.
He told me his son loved football, and as a parent, you often love what your children love—so I believe he loves the game too.”
Trump also reportedly played soccer briefly while attending the New York Military Academy.
The expanded Club World Cup has defied early scepticism, drawing strong attendance of around 2.5 million fans and delivering several thrilling matches across the United States.
