Donald Trump‘s presence at the FIFA Club World Cup final held on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey did not go unnoticed. The US president gave an interview to DAZN after the match between PSG and Chelsea, in which he said he was considering signing an executive order to change the term “soccer” to “football” in the United States. “I think we can do it, I think I could do it,” Trump said.

Trump was one of the guests of honor of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, and the two leaders have strengthened ties ahead of the next edition of the FIFA Club World Cup, which will also take place in the United States in mid-2026 (along with Mexico and Canada). The US president actively participated in the awards ceremony and presented the trophy to the Chelsea and PSG players. According to ‘Marca’, the name change is underway and could become a reality soon. This is a clear example of the impact that the presence of prominent political figures at a tournament can have on a sport.

The impact of the name change in the US

Soccer, or football as Trump proposes, is not among the five most popular sports in the United States, where American football (NFL), basketball (NBA), baseball (MLB), boxing, and ice hockey (NHL) dominate the sporting landscape, along with college football. Major League Soccer (MLS) has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, driven by investments from international stars such as Lionel Messi, currently with Inter Miami.

Trump has expressed his desire to see soccer grow in the country, hoping it will reach the same level of popularity as other American sports. However, the question that arises is whether the name change could have any real effect on the evolution of the sport.

The power of soccer and its influence on Donald Trump

Ivan Martinho, professor of sports marketing at ESPM, analyzes in ‘Marca’ that “it would be a historic change, demonstrating a global truth: the United States resisted for years a sport invented by the English, not the Americans. The more traditional folks won’t like it. Those of Latin American descent, who already make up almost 20% of the population, will like it, and its popularity will grow in the next generations, who will learn to call the sport played with the feet ‘soccer.’”

For his part, Alexandre Vasconcellos, regional manager of Flashscore, points out that “what could happen is a kind of antagonism—intentional or accidental?—between soccer and American football. If it is social engineering, it could be part of a supposed cultural division. But it could also have a geopolitical agenda, bringing together the ‘money’ that currently has a lot of power in soccer, such as that of the United States, with that of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.”

Rene Salviano, CEO of Heatmap, concludes in ‘Marca’ that “it would be interesting, but without major changes in the evolution of the sport. However, it is another positive aspect of the Club Cup. The president undoubtedly understands the power of soccer.”