Trump floats โsoccerโ rebrand โ RT Entertainment
US President Donald Trump suggested that he might issue an executive order to rename soccer as โfootballโ in the United States, during the FIFA Club World Cup final on Sunday.
The idea surfaced after Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 in the championship match, part of preparations for the 2026 World Cup that the US will co-host with Canada and Mexico. Trump attended the match alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino and presented medals and awards to both teams afterwards.
During a post-match interview, a reporter asked Trump whether he would consider signing a new executive order officially renaming soccer โfootballโ in the US. โI think we could do that,โ Trump told DAZN, adding that football โcan bring the world together.โ
Americans have used the word โsoccerโ for more than two centuries, derived from โassociation footballโ, while most of the world โ including 2026 co-hosts Canada and Mexico โ calls the game โfootballโ or a local version.
Trump linked the potential name change to his broader political message. He said the US is doing well politically and financially, mentioning recent visits to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE, and claimed that NATO leaders have told him that a year ago, the US was โdead,โ but now is โthe hottest country in the world.โย โThereโs a lot of truth to that, we were doing very badly as a country in an incompetent administration and now we have a hot country. Itโs really hot. And I think the soccer is going to be hot here too,โ he told the outlet.
Trumpโs remarks come as the US intensifies preparations for co-hosting the 2026 World Cup, including forming a White House task force and pledging to support anti-discrimination measures. However, critics have noted a contradiction between these efforts and Trumpโs restrictive immigration and travel policies, which have sparked concerns that fans and athletes could face difficulties entering the US for the tournament.
The crowd booed Trump several times during the match and the trophy presentation. He was jeered while standing alongside Chelseaโs Cole Palmer during the ceremony, with fans also expressing disapproval during the national anthem.
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