U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed he will attend Sunday’s Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The announcement came during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, coinciding with FIFA’s declaration that it has opened a new representative office in Trump Tower, New York.
The match, which will feature Chelsea against either Real Madrid or Paris Saint-Germain, is being viewed as a key test event ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. That tournament will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and will mark the first time the event features 48 national teams.
“I’ll be going to the game,” Trump told reporters, signalling continued White House support for international sporting events on U.S. soil.
The new FIFA office, located in the iconic Trump Tower in Manhattan, will house the Club World Cup trophy until Sunday’s final. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised the U.S. government’s cooperation in helping stage the tournament.
“We have received such big support from the government and from the President with the White House Task Force for the FIFA Club World Cup now, and for the FIFA World Cup next year,” Infantino said.
Trump’s presence at the final follows a growing trend of his engagement with major sporting events during his second term. He became the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February and personally announced Washington D.C. as the host of the 2027 NFL Draft in May.
However, concerns have been raised internationally over Trump’s immigration policies, particularly in light of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. His administration’s travel ban, which currently affects 12 countries, has drawn criticism, with a leaked memo suggesting plans to expand restrictions to citizens from an additional 36 countries.
Despite this, Infantino has moved to reassure fans and federations worldwide that the U.S. will be a welcoming host. “The world will be welcomed here,” he insisted, as preparations intensify for the largest World Cup in history.
Sunday’s Club World Cup final at the home of the NFL’s New York Jets and Giants is expected to draw a full house, with MetLife Stadium also set to host the 2026 World Cup final. The event will offer a high-profile glimpse into what organisers hope will be a seamless run-up to next year’s global showpiece.