FIFA Club World Cup drama: Did Trump steal the trophy from Chelsea?

FIFA Club World Cup drama: Did Trump steal the trophy from Chelsea?

Summary Bullet Points

1. Club World Cup final saw Trump remain on stage during Chelsea’s trophy lift.
2. FIFA tournament sparked confusion as Trump received a winner’s medal.
3. Global club competition fans booed Trump during the MetLife Stadium ceremony.
4. FIFA championship event led to viral rumours about Trump keeping the trophy.
5. Chelsea's Club World Cup win wasn’t marred by any missing trophy, despite rumours.

FIFA Club World Cup controversy sparked by Trump’s unexpected on-stage moment

The FIFA Club World Cup final held in July 2025 at MetLife Stadium had its share of drama, and not just on the pitch. 

After Chelsea’s hard-fought win, what should have been a straightforward trophy presentation turned into an online frenzy after Donald Trump made an unusual move: he stayed on stage during Chelsea’s celebration and was even seen receiving a winner’s medal from FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

This unexpected presence led to rumours that Trump had taken the actual trophy, forcing FIFA to provide a replica. 

But here’s the truth: no credible reports or evidence suggest that Trump kept the FIFA Club World Cup trophy. The story, while sensational, doesn’t hold up under scrutiny.

Club World Cup final overshadowed by Trump’s extended presence

During the Club World Cup final trophy presentation, it’s customary for dignitaries to hand over the trophy and step aside. 

But Trump, having been invited to the event, did not exit the stage as expected. Instead, he stood by as Chelsea’s players lifted the trophy, making for an awkward visual that surprised both players and fans.

The Chelsea squad appeared visibly unsure about how to react, reportedly puzzled by Trump’s decision to remain in the spotlight. Some shrugged it off, others simply went about their celebrations. But the moment quickly caught fire online.

FIFA tournament ceremony fuels viral misinformation

As footage of Trump onstage spread across social media, conspiracy theories weren’t far behind. One viral claim alleged that Trump refused to hand over the FIFA Club World Cup trophy, and that FIFA had to provide Chelsea with a replica instead.

But let’s be clear: no such incident occurred. Multiple journalists at the scene, as well as official FIFA sources, confirmed that Chelsea received the official trophy, and that Trump’s involvement, while unusual, didn’t interfere with the actual awarding process.

It seems the real issue was optics. Trump’s presence and the way he lingered during the presentation blurred the line between guest and participant, giving rise to confusion and speculation.

Global club competition fans react with boos and memes

The global club competition crowd wasn’t exactly thrilled. As Trump walked onto the stage, he was met with a mixed reception, including noticeable boos from sections of the stadium. Some fans applauded, but the reaction was far from unanimous.

What followed was a flood of memes, parody headlines, and tweets joking about Trump “stealing the trophy” or launching a new “Football MAGA Cup.” For some, it was just political theatre layered onto a major sporting event; for others, it was a disruption to what should’ve been Chelsea’s moment.

FIFA championship event adds fuel to Trump’s football rebrand talk

To top it off, Trump used the opportunity to float one of his pet peeves: the word "soccer." In a post-match interview, he suggested the U.S. should start calling it “football like the rest of the world,” stirring the pot even further.

While not directly related to the FIFA championship event, Trump’s comments added to the spectacle of the night. It wasn’t the first time he’d weighed in on cultural debates, and it probably won’t be the last, but in this case, it turned the post-match headlines away from Chelsea’s win and toward his antics.

Chelsea's Club World Cup win still stands, with no trophy missing

Despite all the noise, Chelsea walked away as FIFA Club World Cup champions, and they did so with the real trophy in hand. While the presentation wasn’t as clean as usual, there’s no evidence whatsoever that anything went wrong behind the scenes.

The viral claim that Trump stole the trophy or kept it as a souvenir? Completely false. Chelsea posed with the hardware, did their lap of honour, and celebrated the victory as any world champion club would.

Fact Check Summary:

1. Trump attended the final and remained on stage—true.
2. He received a medal from Infantino—also true.
3. He took the trophy and kept it? False.
4. FIFA gave Chelsea a replica because Trump took the original? Also false.

Excerpt from related story: Club World Cup 2025: LAFC Qualifies After Defeating Club América in Playoff 

Spectrum Daily reports that Los Angeles FC secured a spot in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after a dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Club América. The playoff was held following Club León’s disqualification due to FIFA’s multi-club ownership rules, setting up LAFC for a high-profile international debut in Group D alongside Chelsea, Flamengo, and ES Tunis.

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