'Unique' Club World Cup: President Trump keeps the real trophy, champion Chelsea only receives a replica

According to The Guardian on July 14, US President Donald Trump announced that the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, which is prominently displayed in the Oval Office, will stay there, and FIFA has created a replica of the trophy to present to Chelsea after their victory in the tournament final.

Who holds the original FIFA Club World Cup trophy?

Trump attended the Club World Cup final with several cabinet members and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The moment when Infantino presented the trophy to Chelsea was quite strange, as the FIFA President immediately left the podium while President Trump remained standing there, waiting to lift the trophy. This scene confused some players. Some people thought that Trump was not familiar with such sporting events and did not know the usual procedures.

Returning to the trophy, Mr. Infantino unveiled the FIFA Club World Cup trophy for the first time at an event in the Oval Office in March this year, and since then, the trophy has been kept here for every subsequent event in this historic space.

The trophy was presented at the White House in March this year.

PHOTO: REUTERS

President Trump in the moment waiting to lift the trophy with Chelsea

PHOTO: REUTERS

Will Chelsea FC only be able to keep a copy?

PHOTO: REUTERS

In an interview with US station DAZN, Mr. Trump shared: “I said, when are you going to get the trophy back? They said, we will never get it back. You can keep it in the Oval Office forever. We are making a new one. And actually, they made a new one. It was interesting, but right now it is still in the Oval Office.”

The trophy awarded to Chelsea was placed right in front of President Trump as he watched the final.

President Trump interviewed by DAZN at MetLife Stadium on July 14.

SCREENSHOT

According to The Guardian , this is information given by Mr. Trump, FIFA has not officially confirmed it.

During the interview, President Trump also hinted at the possibility of issuing an executive order requiring soccer to be called "football" in the U.S. Here, people still use the word "soccer" to refer to 11-a-side soccer, while "football" is reserved for American football.

President Trump also praised the US hosting of the FIFA Club World Cup and next year's World Cup: "It's about unity, people coming together and there's a lot of love between countries. I think it's the most international sport, so it can really bring the world together."

After the FIFA Club World Cup, what lessons can FIFA and the US learn for the 2026 World Cup?

FIFA's ambition in the billion-dollar market

In Mexico (one of the three countries hosting the World Cup next year, along with the US and Canada), soccer is a popular and beloved sport, but not necessarily in the US. This country loves sports where goals and points are scored continuously such as basketball, football, etc., rather than soccer - where 22 people play for 90 minutes and the number of goals is often counted on the fingers of one hand.

US President praises FIFA President

PHOTO: REUTERS

The FIFA Club World Cup event is also one of FIFA's efforts to attract attention from the US market - the world's largest economy . FIFA also tried to build a good relationship with President Trump personally by opening a representative office in Trump Tower (New York).

After the FIFA Club World Cup final, the US President praised the FIFA President: "Well, this is a great event, and, you know, Gianni (Infantino, FIFA President) is a friend of mine. He did a great job with the tournament and with football."

However, President Trump's immigration control policies and travel ban on citizens of 12 countries have raised concerns about the ability to attract fans to the US to watch the 2026 World Cup.

Although FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged that the world will be welcomed at the global sporting event, there are concerns that travel restrictions could make it difficult for fans, officials and teams to travel to the tournament, detracting from the international appeal and grandeur of the 2026 World Cup in the United States.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doc-la-club-world-cup-tong-thong-trump-giu-cup-xin-doi-vo-dich-chelsea-chi-nhan-ban-sao-185250715203505846.htm