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Former U.S. President Donald Trump stirred laughs and headlines on Sunday, July 13, after joking about signing an executive order to officially rename soccer “football” in the United States — bringing American terminology in line with the rest of the world.
Trump made the comment during an interview with DAZN at MetLife Stadium, where he attended the FIFA Club World Cup Final between Chelsea FC and Paris Saint-Germain. Chelsea’s victory, which Trump called “a bit of an upset,” set the tone for a lighthearted conversation.
When a reporter floated the idea of renaming soccer, Trump smiled and replied:
“I think we could do that.”
Trump Attends Match with Melania, Hosted by FIFA President
Trump was joined by First Lady Melania Trump, attending the event at the invitation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a longtime friend. Infantino has previously praised Trump for supporting FIFA’s global initiatives and helping secure the U.S. as a host for major tournaments, including the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, which will also take place at MetLife Stadium.
On America’s Global Rise — and Soccer’s Future
During the interview, Trump reflected on what he sees as a resurgence of America’s influence and connected that momentum to the growing popularity of soccer in the U.S.
“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 said a year ago your country was dead, and now it’s the hottest country in the world. It’s really hot. And I think the soccer is going to be hot here too.”
He also spoke about the power of international sports to build global unity:
“It’s about unity, a lot of getting together, a lot of love between countries. I guess this is probably the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together.”
Gold, Trophies, and a Nod to Pelé
Trump also joked that FIFA had to make a new Club World Cup trophy after Infantino allegedly left the original in the Oval Office earlier this year — and that it looked great with his gold-themed décor.
When asked to name his GOAT (Greatest of All Time) in soccer, Trump didn’t hesitate to pick Brazilian legend Pelé, saying he was fortunate enough to see him play live when he was “a young guy,” a memory he still holds dear.
