Donald Trump was spotted slipping a winner's medal into his pocket at the Club World Cup final on Sunday, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The US President was on medal-presenting duties alongside FIFA chief Gianni Infantino after the match that crowned Chelsea as world champions of club football.
After all medals had been distributed to players, the 79-year-old was still holding one medal. Following a glance from Infantino, Trump placed the medal into his inside suit pocket.
He then proceeded to walk over to the large trophy alongside Infantino to present it to Chelsea captain Reece James.
AS
|Donald Trump was spotted slipping a winner's medal into his pocket at the Club World Cup final on Sunday, where Chelsea defeated Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey
However, confusion ensued during the trophy presentation when Trump declined to leave the podium and found himself caught up in the enthusiastic Chelsea celebrations.
The President has since disclosed that the original Club World Cup trophy is now on display in the White House's Oval Office.
Speaking to Dazn, Trump revealed the circumstances behind this unusual arrangement: "I said, When are you going to pick up the trophy? [They said] 'We're never going to pick it up. You can have it forever in the Oval Office. We're making a new one.'"
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The Art of The Steal - Donald Trump stole a CWC winners medal yesterday. pic.twitter.com/OskSn199af
— ShanghaiPanda (@thinking_panda) July 14, 2025
He added: "And they actually made a new one [for Chelsea]. So that was quite exciting, but right now [the original] is in the Oval."
The President's attendance at the match drew mixed reactions from the 80,000-strong crowd, with both applause and boos greeting his presence.
Despite this, Trump later told reporters: "We had a great time." He also described the crowd as "tremendous".
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Following the match, the President joked about signing an executive order to rename soccer to football, as it is known in Europe.
The Club World Cup served as a prelude to next summer's World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA estimates that 6.5 million fans will attend matches across 16 cities, with additional supporters expected to gather in fan parks. The 2026 tournament will feature a record 48 teams.
The revelation about the trophy arrangement highlights an unusual FIFA decision regarding the prestigious award.
The original Club World Cup trophy will remain permanently in the Oval Office whilst a replacement was manufactured specifically for Chelsea.
This marks a departure from traditional trophy protocols in international football, where winning teams typically receive the original silverware temporarily before returning it.
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|Donald Trump congratulated Chelsea players following their Club World Cup final win over PSG
The President's medal-pocketing incident and subsequent trophy confusion added an unconventional element to what should have been a straightforward presentation ceremony.
The Club World Cup final represented a significant moment for American football infrastructure ahead of the 2026 World Cup, demonstrating the nation's capacity to host major international tournaments.