Chelsea Captain Reacts to Donald Trump to introduce the Club World Cup Trophy
After winning the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Chelsea FC captain Reese James told the media he was surprised that President Donald Trump stayed on stage after he announced the trophy.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — President Donald Trump took part in the FIFA Club World Cup awards ceremony after Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain (3-0) in the final on Sunday.
He joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino on the pitch at MetLife Stadium, where fans auditioned before standing in the crowd and waving.
The president and first lady left the box suite at 5:27pm, according to a White House Pool report. Trump and Infantino walked to the pitch 15 minutes later, “We appeared on Jumbotron and were booed again. We also got applause, mouths and cheers. The music in the stadium owned the boo.”
Trump was second behind Infantino to congratulate the players and coaches after the game. He waved the player and patted the back while walking by him on stage. He was a young tournament winner, PSG’s Desire Doo, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sanchez the Golden Globe and Cole Palmer handed the golden ball for the match’s MVP. Palmer scored the first two of Chelsea’s three goals.
Trump then placed medals on every referee’s neck for the match. Fans were loudly turned to Booder when Trump and Infantino took a photo with the judge.
After the award presentation, Chelsea players gathered to accept the trophy and celebrate as a team. Trump stood with Chelsea players while waiting to raise the trophy. Infantino eventually pulled Trump behind the players so the team could celebrate.
After the ceremony, Trump was interviewed on a Dazn broadcast and asked who he thought of in football.
“When I was young many years ago, they brought a player named Pere to play and he played for a team called Cosmos,” Trump replied. “…and this place was packed in. It was an earlier version of this stadium, but here in Meadowland, it was Pele. I didn’t want to date myself, but that was a long time ago. I was a young man. I came to see Pele.
Speaking to reporters at Tarmac after the match, Trump said, “I think it was a bit upsetting, but it was a great, great match, it was a really well played and an incredible crowd.”
USA Today reporter Francesa Chambers contributed to this report.
