Former U.S. President Donald Trump joked about signing an executive order to rename soccer as “football” in the United States, aligning it with international terminology, during an appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday, July 13.
Speaking to DAZN at MetLife Stadium—where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain in what Trump called “a bit of an upset”—he lit up when a reporter suggested the idea.
“I think we could do that,” he quipped, smiling.
Trump attended the final alongside First Lady Melania Trump at the invitation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a longtime friend. Infantino has previously praised Trump for his support of FIFA events and for helping bring the 2026 Men’s World Cup to U.S. soil, with the final set to be held at the same stadium in New Jersey.
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During the interview, Trump spoke about America’s growing influence on the global stage and tied it to soccer’s increasing popularity in the country.
“The U.S. is doing very well on the political stage, on the financial stage,” he said. “I was just in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE—all the leaders told me that a year ago, your country was dead. Now it’s the hottest country in the world. And I think the soccer is going to be hot here too.”
He also emphasized the unifying power of international sports:
“It’s about unity, a lot of getting together, a lot of love between countries. Soccer is probably the most international sport, so it really can bring the world together.”
Trump humorously added that FIFA had to design a new Club World Cup trophy after Infantino left the original one in the Oval Office earlier this year, joking it fit right in with his gold-themed décor.
When asked to name his all-time football GOAT, Trump chose Brazilian legend Pelé, saying he was fortunate to have seen him play live as a young man—a memory he still holds dear.
