Focus on the BIG picture.
Monday, Feb 02, 2026
Outside the box.
Trump Reaffirms Possession of FIFA Club World Cup Trophy Amid Global Football Debates
U.S. President says FIFA entrusted him with the original Club World Cup trophy, which remains in the White House as winners received a replica
U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly stated that he retains the original FIFA Club World Cup trophy at the White House after the inaugural expanded tournament concluded in July, asserting that officials from football’s global governing body entrusted it to him “forever” in the Oval Office.
Speaking in comments that have reverberated through the international sporting community, the President said that when FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Washington earlier in the year he was asked to hold the trophy, and was later told it would remain on display at the White House while a new version was made for the competition’s champions.
The claim, made in a mid-tournament interview with international broadcaster DAZN and reiterated by Trump afterwards, reflects a striking intersection of sport and diplomacy as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America.
The trophy, a newly designed 24-karat gold-plated award created in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. for the expanded Club World Cup, has been installed in the Oval Office since its transfer, the President said, and he described the arrangement as an honour.
Trump’s remarks have drawn attention from fans, pundits and officials alike, given the symbolic significance of the trophy and the high-profile role of the U.S. in the global game leading up to next summer’s tournament.
The champions of the 2025 Club World Cup, English club Chelsea, were presented with a replica at the final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain, leading to discussion about the status of the original award.
Players on the pitch were visibly surprised by the extended role played by the U.S. President during the celebration, as well as by the subsequent narrative around the trophy’s custody.
While FIFA has not issued a detailed public statement confirming the long-term disposition of the original Club World Cup trophy, Trump’s account underscores the growing prominence of football diplomacy in Washington and hints at the broader cultural and political significance attached to the sport in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.
The episode adds another layer to the evolving relationship between the administration and global sporting institutions as major international events unfold under the United States’ watchful spotlight.
Speaking in comments that have reverberated through the international sporting community, the President said that when FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited Washington earlier in the year he was asked to hold the trophy, and was later told it would remain on display at the White House while a new version was made for the competition’s champions.
The claim, made in a mid-tournament interview with international broadcaster DAZN and reiterated by Trump afterwards, reflects a striking intersection of sport and diplomacy as the United States prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup across North America.
The trophy, a newly designed 24-karat gold-plated award created in collaboration with Tiffany & Co. for the expanded Club World Cup, has been installed in the Oval Office since its transfer, the President said, and he described the arrangement as an honour.
Trump’s remarks have drawn attention from fans, pundits and officials alike, given the symbolic significance of the trophy and the high-profile role of the U.S. in the global game leading up to next summer’s tournament.
The champions of the 2025 Club World Cup, English club Chelsea, were presented with a replica at the final in New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium after their victory over Paris Saint-Germain, leading to discussion about the status of the original award.
Players on the pitch were visibly surprised by the extended role played by the U.S. President during the celebration, as well as by the subsequent narrative around the trophy’s custody.
While FIFA has not issued a detailed public statement confirming the long-term disposition of the original Club World Cup trophy, Trump’s account underscores the growing prominence of football diplomacy in Washington and hints at the broader cultural and political significance attached to the sport in the run-up to the 2026 World Cup.
The episode adds another layer to the evolving relationship between the administration and global sporting institutions as major international events unfold under the United States’ watchful spotlight.
