The FIFA Club World Cup final is meant to be a pure celebration. It’s where the best clubs from different continents meet, where players fight for glory, and where fans unite. But this year, things got messy and it wasn’t because of the match.
Instead, former U.S. President Donald Trump ended up stealing the spotlight during what should have been a smooth medal ceremony. But not in a good way. His showing up just made things feel weird.
Nobody really saw it coming, and honestly, most people weren’t happy. Some looked confused, others clearly annoyed. You could feel the mood shift in the stadium, it wasn’t the moment it was supposed to be.
The Game Was Great — The Ceremony Wasn’t
To be fair, the game itself was solid. Chelsea and PSG gave it everything. It was fast, competitive, and had real moments of quality.
You could tell both teams wanted it badly. Fans cheered. You could feel the energy. Everyone expected a classic match day.
As soon as the whistle went, everyone started looking toward the podium. The Chelsea players looked tired but proud. You could see it in their faces. Fans were on them, buzzing, just waiting for that trophy moment.
Except it didn’t happen like that.
Trump marched onto the stage with VIPs, shaking hands and smiling. That’s fine, it’s standard to bring on dignitaries. But then it all went sideways. Instead of keeping things moving, he dived into player interactions. He chatted, he snapped photos on his phone.
He took his time. And the crowd? They turned restless. The polite applause died down. Restlessness grew. Booing began.
Chaos on Stage — Players Were Puzzled
Once Trump decided to linger, everything started to feel off. The cameras captured players looking awkward, fans murmuring. Even Chelsea’s captain, Reece James, didn’t hold back.
According to observers, he grabbed Trump’s arm and muttered, “Are you going to leave?” a clear sign they weren’t expecting this delay.
READ MORE: Chelsea Win Club World Cup Amid Chaos – Palmer Stars, Trump Surprise Appearance Sparks Reaction
MVP Cole Palmer later admitted, “I knew he was gonna be there, but I didn’t know he was gonna be on the stand when we lifted the trophy … I was a bit confused.”
The whole vibe shifted from triumph to tension in seconds.
“We Could Call It Football”
Then came another curveball. While still on stage, Trump quipped:
“I don’t know why we call it soccer in the U.S. We should call it football like the rest of the world.”
Sounds harmless until you get context. It was during the ceremony, with players in mid-celebration. This wasn’t a planned speech; it felt tone-deaf. Fans on social media didn’t hold back:
“This wasn’t the time for a speech. Just hand out the medals.”
“He turned a football moment into a political show.”
Even in America, where “soccer” is the norm, suddenly someone was making this debate part of a global moment.
Booed Loud and Clear
Trump showed up on the screen during the anthem, and people instantly started booing. It got loud. You could tell the whole place was uncomfortable. And he faced more boos when he joined the medal ceremony.
Many sources said the boos outweighed any cheers. The Independent noted that while The New York Post claimed “huge applause,” that wasn’t accurate. Fans booed, plain and simple.
Fans online were quick to mock the moment:
“Lots of boos—zero applause,” one commenter wrote.
“He stole the moment,” said another.
Medal Mischief and Trophy Troubles
Things took an even stranger turn when Trump pocketed a medal. Video showed him shaking off a player's extended hand, then slipping the medal into his blazer pocket.
It went viral and sparked backlash. Some joked it was “The Art of the Steal.” Others pointed out that it was debunked by later footage—Infantino had handed Trump the medal intentionally. Still, to many, it felt off.
Then Trump dropped another bombshell: he revealed he was keeping the original Club World Cup trophy instead of giving it to Chelsea. He told DAZN:
“They said, ‘Could you hold this for a little while?’ We put it in the Oval Office … They’re making a new one.”
“It’s in the Oval right now.”
That was beyond odd, and it struck a chord. The trophy is symbolic. Taking it not even temporarily felt disrespectful.
Voices from the Field
Football experts weren’t shy.
Henry Winter wrote:
“There’s no space for political showboating when the focus should be on the athletes. That was their moment.”
Craig Burley, speaking on ESPN FC, shook his head at the unfolding mess calling it a political sideshow during a football event.
Former USWNT star Megan Rapinoe, who’s had public clashes with Trump said of his involvement in sport:
“He doesn’t understand what this sport means to people not just in America, but around the world.”
The story goes deeper. In June, Juventus players visited the White House, and one said the event was “a bit weird.” These aren’t isolated incidents.
The Line Between Sport and Politics
At its heart, football events are about players and fans. The sport’s power lies in that connection. But add a high-profile political figure at a sensitive moment, and it’s a distraction. That’s exactly what happened on Sunday.
Fans outside the stadium said it best:
“This was about the teams, not politics. We came to celebrate football, not listen to a speech.”
The mix of boos, awkwardness, and dragging out the ceremony left a taste of frustration. Many felt disrespected that hours of hard work were overshadowed by a show.
What FIFA Might Do Next
FIFA hasn’t issued a full statement yet, but ESPN reported one official called it “not how we rehearsed it. We’re still trying to understand what exactly happened up there.” That’s telling. FIFA likely expected a standard ceremony, not a star turn by a former president.
Going forward, they’ll need to rethink who goes on stage and how that’s handled. Fans want clarity. Players want focus. Those are valid things to defend.
Will This Be Forgotten?
Short answer: unlikely, at least not soon. The game, the scoreline, the celebration they’ll stick. But the awkward trophy moment? That’ll live online forever in highlight reels and memes.
It’s not the legacy that the players or fans signed up for. They trained for that trophy lift, meant to be pure, unfiltered, celebratory.
Instead, we got a distraction.
Looking Ahead
FIFA and frankly any sport event with high-profile guests should learn from this. Stick to protocols. Know when a ceremony is a ceremony, and let players hold the moment.
Fans and experts agree: politics and pageantry should stay off-center. Let the athletes take the spotlight.
Wanderlustsport Verdict
Trump’s comment about soccer vs. football isn’t earth-shattering. It’s a minor opinion. But that moment, in that setting, was the wrong time.
The medal ceremony wasn’t about renaming the sport. It wasn’t about selfies or speeches. It was about a club, a captain, the fans, and a moment of triumph.
Let the sport shine. Let the players have their moment. Leave politics at the gate.
What Do You Think?
Should the U.S. adopt “football” officially, or keep “soccer”? Was Trump way out of line during the ceremony? Or did he just make things interesting?
Jump into the convo over at WanderlustSport.com. We’re all about real stories, real football, real fans.