By M10News Sport Desk | 14 July 2025
Donald Trump has come under fire after being accused of hijacking Chelsea’s Club World Cup trophy celebration during their historic win over Paris Saint-Germain.
The former U.S. President took centre stage during the presentation ceremony at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, but many fans were left unhappy with his prominent role.
Chelsea pulled off a shock 3-0 win against tournament favourites PSG in Sunday’s final, claiming the title in the first edition of FIFA’s newly expanded Club World Cup.
The French giants had been the standout team throughout the tournament, dispatching European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid en route to the final.
But their momentum crumbled against a ruthless Chelsea side, who had only finished fourth in the Premier League last season.
Cole Palmer struck twice in rapid succession to give the Blues the lead, before recent signing Joao Pedro made it 3-0 on the stroke of half-time.
PSG’s frustration boiled over late in the game, as midfielder Joao Neves was sent off before a dramatic post-match brawl erupted involving manager Luis Enrique.
After tempers cooled, the trophy presentation commenced with both Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino playing lead roles.
The pair were seen greeting players and presenting medals to Chelsea and PSG before jointly handing over the Club World Cup trophy to Chelsea captain Reece James.
However, Trump remained at the centre of the podium during the celebrations, standing among the Chelsea players as they posed with the trophy.
The moment sparked backlash online, with fans accusing the 79-year-old of stealing the spotlight from the team’s achievement.
“Someone take Donald out, he’s ruining the moment,” one Chelsea fan wrote on social media. Another added, “It’s so annoying seeing someone not involved in the game at all ruining the moment for the players.”
Chelsea forward Cole Palmer admitted he was caught off guard by Trump’s presence. “I knew he was going to be there, but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy, so I was a bit confused,” he said.
Despite the awkwardness, the Chelsea squad did not appear visibly upset during the celebrations, with players still embracing the moment.
Commenting on the presentation, DAZN presenter Ade Oladipo remarked, “What a moment. It was a bit awkward with Reece James not knowing if he was coming or going. I thought Donald Trump, the President, was going to lift it at one point!”
Trump later praised the event, calling it “a big thing” and commending Infantino’s leadership of FIFA.
“Gianni’s done such a great job with soccer, or football as they call it,” Trump told reporters. “We flew over the stadium earlier, and it was packed. The four matches here were packed. It was great.”
While the final saw strong attendance and a half-time performance from Coldplay, other matches in the tournament struggled to attract crowds.
Four fixtures failed to reach 10,000 spectators, although 15 games did draw more than 60,000 fans, reflecting a mixed reception for FIFA’s revamped format.
The United States hosted the tournament one year ahead of co-hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca praised his players following their triumph, saying, “I have no words for the players. They all deserve this, and it’s a good moment.”
The Blues now turn their focus to a pre-season fixture against Bayer Leverkusen before kicking off their Premier League campaign on August 17.
“I’m very excited about the future,” Maresca added. “But I’m more excited that we have three weeks off.”
Editing by M10News Sport Desk | Contact: sports@m10news.com
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