US President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend Sunday’s FIFA Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, as football’s governing body deepens its ties with the United States by opening a new office in New York’s Trump Tower.
The move signals FIFA’s growing footprint in the US, which is hosting the first expanded Club World Cup and will share hosting duties for next year’s World Cup with Canada and Mexico. FIFA already operates a regional office in Miami.
Chelsea are set to face either Paris Saint-Germain or Real Madrid in Sunday’s final, which will take place at the same venue scheduled to host the 2026 World Cup final.
Trump, who was also in attendance at this year’s Super Bowl, chairs a White House taskforce overseeing preparations for both tournaments.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised US government backing, saying, “We have received such big support from the government and from the president with the White House taskforce for the FIFA Club World Cup and for the FIFA World Cup next year.”
Infantino insisted fans would be welcomed to the US despite concerns over Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including a travel ban covering 12 nations and reported plans to expand restrictions to as many as 36 more countries.
Trump has significantly raised his sporting profile during his second term, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl and confirming Washington DC as host city for the 2027 NFL Draft.
He has also made regular appearances at UFC events, including last month’s showcase in New Jersey, and has pledged to bring a UFC event to the White House next year.
