In a surprising revelation during a DAZN interview, former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that the real Club World Cup trophy is now permanently housed in the White House. “I asked them when they were taking the cup back,” Trump said. “They told me, ‘We’re not taking it back. You can keep it in the Oval Office forever—we made a new one for Chelsea.’”
According to Trump, FIFA created a duplicate for the winners while designating the original as a symbolic diplomatic artifact. This development aligns with his broader strategy of using global sports as a soft power tool, especially with the United States set to co-host the 2026 World Cup with Canada and Mexico.
Trump, a longtime media-savvy figure, previously welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the White House in March 2025 for the trophy’s unveiling. Since then, the trophy has made several public appearances, often used as a backdrop during diplomatic engagements.
In the same interview, Trump playfully suggested he might “issue an executive order requiring Americans to stop calling it soccer—and start calling it football,” reinforcing his growing interest in the sport. He added, “Football is the most international sport. It brings nations together. The FIFA Club World Cup and the upcoming World Cup will unite the world.” However, the unity message was slightly overshadowed during the trophy ceremony at MetLife Stadium. Trump stood front and center among Chelsea players during the presentation, lingering onstage despite Infantino’s subtle cues to step aside for the champions’ moment.
It remains unclear whether there are noticeable design differences between the replica and the original trophy. Still, what’s certain is that Trump has made the Club World Cup trophy a centerpiece of his symbolic diplomacy—just as the tournament increasingly intertwines sport, commerce, and politics.
Meanwhile, the 2025 Club World Cup proved financially lucrative. According to ESPN, 12 participating European clubs shared a staggering $623 million in prize money—nearly double the $377 million distributed to the other 20 teams. This windfall is expected to further strengthen Europe’s elite clubs like Chelsea, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich ahead of the 2025/26 season.