The president is considering renaming the sport as ‘football’ in the US as America gears up for the 2026 World Cup
US President Donald Trump suggested that he might issue an executive order to rename soccer as ‘football’ 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 ‘football’ in the US. “I think we could do that,” Trump told DAZN, adding that football “can bring the world together.” Americans have used the word ‘soccer’ for more than two centuries, derived from ‘association football’, while most of the world – including 2026 co-hosts Canada and Mexico – calls the game ‘football’ 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 “dead,” but now is “the hottest country in the world.””There’s 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. It’s really hot. And I think the soccer is going to be hot here too,” he told the outlet.
Trump’s 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 Trump’s 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 Chelsea’s Cole Palmer during the ceremony, with fans also expressing disapproval during the national anthem.
