 "Donald Trump after Chelsea won against Paris St Germain in the FIFA Club World Cup final. Image: Reuters")
US President Donald Trump has claimed that the FIFA Club World Cup trophy currently displayed in the Oval Office will remain there permanently. According to Trump, FIFA made a copy of the trophy for Chelsea after their recent victory in the tournament’s final on Sunday.
Trump keeps Club World Cup trophy in White House
Trump attended the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino. After Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0, Trump and Infantino presented the trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James. Speaking to DAZN after the tournament, Trump said FIFA had already told him that he can keep the trophy permanently at his office.
“I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? [They said] ‘We’re never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We’re making a new one.’ And they actually made a new one. So that was quite exciting, but it is in the Oval [Office] right now,” Trump was quoted as saying by the official broadcaster.
FIFA has not yet commented on the matter. Infantino had unveiled the Club World Cup trophy at the Oval Office in March, 100 days before the start of the new expanded edition of the competition. Infantino had visited the White House for the special event, where he also presented Trump the official match ball.
“So today is 100 days to go for the new competition (FIFA Club World Cup 2025) that we created, FIFA Club World Cup, with the best teams and players in the world. So we can show this unique trophy, it’s not like any other trophy, it is a unique trophy, with a key. There is no other sports trophy like this,” Infantino had said.
Meanwhile, Trump surprised everyone, including Chelsea players after he stayed on stage for celebrations after handing the trophy to the winning team.
Cole Palmer was jumping up and down behind Reece James as the Chelsea captain received the trophy, Trump to his left, standing between the midfielder and goalkeeper Robert Sánchez.
“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,” Palmer said.
Palmer received the Golden Ball as top player of the tournament after scoring the first two goals in Chelsea’s 3-0 smothering of Paris Saint-Germain on Sunday night. Trump appeared to leave the award stand with a medal of his own, handed to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino right after the medallion was presented to James.
(With agency inputs)