While Chelsea’s dominant 3-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday stole the spotlight on the field, former President Donald Trump found himself at the center of attention for a series of notable and controversial moments off it.
Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey to witness Chelsea’s triumph, with two goals from Cole Palmer and one from João Pedro securing the Blues their inaugural win in the newly formatted competition.
But for Trump, his day was marked by a mixture of cheers, boos, confusion, and an unexpected involvement in the trophy ceremony.
Booed on the Big Screen, Cheered and Booed Again
The day started with Trump and Melania being cheered by fans as they entered the stadium. However, things took a turn when Trump’s image was shown on the big screen during the pre-game national anthem. His appearance prompted a scattering of boos from the crowd.
The boos didn’t stop there—Trump faced another round of jeers later in the evening as he stood on the field alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino to present the winner’s medals to the Chelsea players.
The booing and mixed reactions didn’t seem to faze the 79-year-old, who was regularly shown sitting alongside Infantino throughout the broadcast. Trump was surrounded by high-profile figures such as Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, NFL legend Tom Brady, and media mogul Rupert Murdoch, who were all spotted in the suite with him.
Unexpected Presence at Trophy Lift
Things took an even more unusual turn after Chelsea’s victory. After Trump handed the winner’s trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James with Infantino, the players were left uncertain about the proceedings.
Typically, the trophy lift is reserved for the players and staff of the winning team. However, Trump remained on stage after handing over the trophy, causing confusion among the Chelsea squad.
Goalkeeper Robert Sánchez, who was on the other side of Trump, signaled to James to go ahead with the trophy lift, leading to a strange moment where the Chelsea players celebrated their victory with the U.S. president standing in the middle of the celebration.
Chelsea Players Express Confusion
Afterward, Chelsea players expressed their bewilderment at Trump’s involvement in the ceremony. “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,” said Palmer, who was named the player of the tournament.
Reece James added, “Before they told me that he was going to present the trophy and exit the stage. I thought he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay.”
This odd moment sparked further confusion on social media, with videos showing Infantino seemingly giving Trump a winner’s medal. CNN Sports has reached out to FIFA for clarification on whether Trump was specifically awarded a medal and whether he was meant to be on stage during the trophy lift.
Trump’s Take on the Game
Trump’s comments after the game were typically brief. “It was an upset today, I guess,” he told reporters after returning to Washington, referring to Chelsea’s 3-0 win. “But it was a great match.”
A Unique Ending to a Unique Tournament
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final was already a memorable event, with games played in extreme heat and delays due to thunderstorms.
The match itself was highlighted by a halftime performance, with British rock band Coldplay joining J Balvin, Doja Cat, Tems, and Emmanuel Kelly for a surprise cameo.
With the 2026 World Cup just around the corner and set to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, it’s clear that things are only going to get bigger and more unconventional in the world of international soccer.
