The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium was supposed to be a celebration of football. It became, unmistakably, a spectacle of politics.As Chelsea thrashed Paris Saint-Germain 4–0 in a dominant display to win their first title in the newly expanded 32-team tournament, it was the presence of Donald Trump—President of the United States, twice impeached and twice elected—that turned the match from a sporting contest into a geopolitical tableau.Trump, appearing at a sold-out stadium packed with nearly 82,000 fans, was greeted by a wave of boos. They began the moment his image flashed on the big screen during the national anthem and continued when he walked onto the pitch alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino to present medals and the trophy.And then came the moment that defined the day: as Chelsea’s captain Reece James prepared to lift the trophy, Trump remained in the centre of the stage, refusing to step aside. Infantino quietly moved out of the camera frame. Trump stayed put, flanked by Chelsea players and global dignitaries, ensuring that when Chelsea were crowned world champions, he too was in the picture.
Politics at Pitchside
Security at MetLife was significantly tighter than usual. Secret Service agents patrolled the gates. Entry lines moved slowly in the 29°C heat. The kickoff itself was delayed by eight minutes. Trump’s motorcade used a special entrance near the players’ tunnel, his entourage entering under drawn curtains roughly half an hour before the match.The national anthem—which had, until then, been played an hour before kickoff at every Club World Cup match—was moved to just before the whistle, a change made specifically to align with Trump’s presence. When he was shown standing on the video boards, boos rained down from all sections of the stadium for several seconds.FIFA President Gianni Infantino, for his part, has cultivated a close alliance with Trump ever since the United States was awarded hosting rights for the 2025 Club World Cup and 2026 FIFA World Cup. He has described his relationship with Trump as “absolutely crucial,” and accompanied him on high-profile appearances in the Middle East, at the White House, and at the FIFA World Cup Task Force’s inaugural meeting.The Club World Cup trophy itself had sat briefly in the Oval Office earlier this year—presented by Infantino in a private ceremony. On Sunday night, it returned to Trump’s hands in far more public fashion.
The Chelsea Connection
On the footballing side, Chelsea’s performance was clinical and unrelenting. Cole Palmer scored twice, picking up the Golden Ball, while goals from Noni Madueke and Enzo Fernández rounded out the scoreline. PSG, who had looked strong in the earlier rounds, were completely outplayed.For American fans, there was a local link in Chelsea’s ownership. Todd Boehly, the US-based billionaire who leads the club’s consortium, joined Trump, Infantino and PSG chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi on stage after the match.But the spotlight did not belong to the players. Despite Chelsea’s historic win, the trophy lift will be remembered for something else entirely: the image of Donald Trump, uninvited but unavoidable, seizing the centre of global football’s biggest club stage.
The Optics of Power
Among the attendees in the midfield luxury box were former NFL star Tom Brady, media magnate Rupert Murdoch, and key figures from Trump’s cabinet—including Attorney General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and Homeland Security chief Kristi Noem.While some fans applauded, many jeered. The final was not just a test of athletic endurance under intense heat, but a referendum on whether football’s biggest tournaments can remain apolitical. On this count, the answer seemed clear.Trump’s commandeering of the ceremony was no accident. It was a calculated piece of political theatre: assert dominance, hijack the photo op, and draw the camera away from those who earned the spotlight.
Fallout and Future Tensions
Human rights groups and player associations have already raised concerns over Trump’s revived immigration stance ahead of the 2026 World Cup. With nations like Iran and Senegal qualifying, questions loom over whether their players and fans will face travel restrictions.FIFA, for now, is looking the other way. Its alignment with Trump appears strategic. Hosting rights bring power—and power, as Sunday proved, is not just earned on the field.In the end, Chelsea won the match. But Trump, booed yet unbowed, stole the moment.
