United States President Donald Trump has confirmed his attendance at Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, underscoring growing ties between his administration and world football’s governing body.
The announcement came on the heels of FIFA’s decision to open a new office in New York’s Trump Tower, a symbolic move to strengthen its presence in the United States.
The country is currently hosting the inaugural expanded edition of the Club World Cup and is also set to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup alongside Canada and Mexico.
Sunday’s final will feature Chelsea facing off against Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid at the same venue slated to host the 2026 World Cup final.
Trump, who earlier this year became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl, is chairing a White House task force dedicated to overseeing preparations for both FIFA tournaments.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino commended the United States government’s involvement in the sport’s expansion.
“We have received tremendous support from the government and from the president through the White House taskforce for both the FIFA Club World Cup and the World Cup next year,” Infantino said.
“FIFA is a global organisation, and to be global you have to be local—you have to be everywhere. That’s why we are opening in New York,” he added.
FIFA already operates an office in Miami, and the new Trump Tower location is viewed as a strategic step to enhance cooperation with US authorities.
However, Trump’s presence in international sports continues to spark debate due to his controversial immigration policies. His administration reportedly considers expanding the travel ban to 36 additional countries, raising concerns about fan accessibility for upcoming global tournaments.
Infantino attempted to allay those fears, “FIFA is a global organisation, and fans will be welcomed to the US.”
Since the start of his second term, Trump has increased his visibility in the sports world.
In addition to attending the Super Bowl, he announced in May that Washington, D.C., will host the 2027 NFL Draft.
He has also made several appearances at UFC events, including one in New Jersey last month, and recently revealed plans for the White House to host a UFC event within the next year.
