President Donald Trump faced audible disapproval from soccer fans during Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where he was booed multiple times throughout the evening while presenting trophies to the winning Chelsea team.
The 79-year-old president and First Lady Melania Trump attended the match between Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain on July 13, which Chelsea won 3-0 to become the inaugural winners of the newly formatted competition. Trump received a mixed reception from the 80,000 fans in attendance, with boos occurring during several key moments of the event.
The first instance of booing occurred during the pre-game national anthem when Trump was shown on the stadium’s video screens. The crowd’s negative reaction prompted the camera operators to quickly pan away from the presidential box. Additional booing erupted later when Trump walked onto the field with FIFA President Gianni Infantino to present medals and the championship trophy.
Following the ceremony, an unusual situation developed when Trump remained on stage during Chelsea’s traditional trophy celebration. While Infantino departed after presenting the award, Trump stayed center stage as the Chelsea players prepared for their ceremonial trophy lift. This created confusion among the players, who appeared uncertain whether to proceed with their celebration.
Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez eventually motioned for captain Reece James to proceed with the trophy lift despite Trump’s presence. James later expressed his bewilderment about the situation, indicating that he had been told Trump would present the trophy and then exit the stage. He noted that he thought Trump was going to leave, but that the president wanted to stay.
Cole Palmer, who scored two goals in the victory and was named player of the tournament, also expressed confusion about Trump’s continued presence on the podium. Palmer told reporters he knew Trump would attend the match, but “I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused.”
The event served as a preview for next year’s World Cup, which will hold its final at the same MetLife Stadium venue in July 2026. The United States will co-host the tournament alongside Canada and Mexico, with FIFA having moved offices into Trump Tower in New York City, as announced by Infantino last week.
Trump was accompanied in his luxury box by several high-profile guests, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, NFL legend Tom Brady, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch. Security at the stadium was significantly elevated from previous matches, with Secret Service agents posted at stadium gates.
The relationship between Trump and Infantino has developed over several years, with the FIFA president describing their relationship as absolutely crucial during a February meeting with the International Football Association Board. Infantino has appeared alongside Trump at multiple public events, including at the Oval Office when announcing the creation of a World Cup task force.
The Club World Cup trophy had previously been displayed in Trump’s Oval Office after Infantino presented it to the president in March. The trophy appeared in the background of major presidential announcements throughout the year, from nuclear warnings to Iran to celebrating trade deals with Britain.
During the post-game ceremony, Trump participated in presenting individual awards, handing out the young player award to PSG’s Desire Doue, the Golden Glove to Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez, and the Golden Ball MVP award to Palmer. He also placed medals around the necks of all match referees, which prompted additional booing from the crowd before stadium music eventually drowned out the negative reactions.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Trump acknowledged the outcome as somewhat unexpected but praised the quality of play. He also participated in a DAZN broadcast interview, discussing soccer legends and referencing Pele’s historic performances at the Meadowlands venue years earlier.
The tournament, which FIFA awarded to the United States in 2023, was viewed by many as a dress rehearsal for next year’s World Cup. Despite Infantino’s characterization of the event as a huge success, the competition faced criticism regarding commercial interests being prioritized over players’ health and fans’ experiences. Concerns about heat, safety, and tightened travel restrictions to the United States have been raised regarding the upcoming World Cup.
The final took place amid temperatures reaching 85 degrees Fahrenheit, with kickoff delayed by approximately eight minutes. The match featured a halftime performance by British rock band Coldplay alongside other artists, adding American-style entertainment elements to the international soccer event.