During his appearance at the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey, President Donald Trump raised eyebrows by suggesting he might sign an executive order renaming “soccer” as “football” in the United States.
Trump, who was present at MetLife Stadium for Chelsea’s 3–0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain, joked in an interview with DAZN TV that he may have the authority to mandate the change.
“I think we could do that,” Trump remarked, adding that while in the U.S. the sport is called soccer, “most English-speaking countries refer to the sport as football.”
His quip reflects a broader push to embrace football ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host (alongside Canada and Mexico). The moment was met with laughs, but it shows Trump’s attempts to strengthen America’s alignment with this global sport.
