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Published : 14 Jul 2025, 04:11 PM
Chelsea's Club World Cup (CWC) triumph was interrupted by an unexpected guest, as the trophy was handed to Blues captain Reece James, US President Donald Trump remained on the stage, much to the surprise of the players and officials, BBC Sports reports.
Trump stayed alongside James and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez and applauded as the winners lifted the trophy before he and FIFA President Infantino left at the rear of the stage.
“They told me that he was going to present the trophy and then exit the stage, and I thought that he was going to exit the stage, but he wanted to stay. He just congratulated me and the team for lifting the trophy and told us to enjoy the moment,” James was quoted as saying by The BBC.
Cole Palmer, who scored twice for Chelsea in the final, added: "I knew he was going to be here but I didn't know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy.
“I was a bit confused, yes.”
Trump watched Chelsea's impressive victory alongside Fifa president Gianni Infantino and said in an interview with Dazn at half-time that he was "having a really great time".
Trump later on Sunday, added: "Gianni is a friend of mine, he's done such a great job with the league and with soccer—or as they would call it 'football', but I guess we call it soccer. I'm not sure that change could be made very easily. But it's great to watch—and this is a little bit of an upset that we're watching today, isn't it?"
The 2026 men's World Cup next summer will be jointly hosted by the United States, along with Canada and Mexico.
