US President Donald Trump attended the FIFA Club World Cup final held in East Rutherford, New Jersey this past Sunday. Prior to this, world football governing body FIFA announced that it had opened an office in New York's Trump Tower.
This expanded tournament, featuring many of the world's top club teams, is widely seen as a preview of the 2026 World Cup. Co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the 2026 World Cup will see a record 48 national teams compete.
Sunday's Club World Cup final at MetLife Stadium – home to the New York Giants and Jets – will also serve as a preview of next year's World Cup final, as the stadium is set to host the 2026 World Cup final as well.
"I will be going to the game," Trump told reporters.
The day before this announcement, FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced the opening of a representative office at Trump Tower, where the Club World Cup trophy was displayed ahead of the final.
"We have received tremendous support from the US government and the White House task force led by the President (for hosting this Club World Cup and next year's World Cup)," Infantino stated.
In his second term, Trump has not shied away from major moments in the sports world: he became the first sitting US President to attend the Super Bowl (this past February) and announced from the Oval Office in May that Washington, D.C. would host the 2027 NFL Draft.
However, despite Infantino's assurances that the world will be welcome in the US for the quadrennial global event, concerns about the 2026 World Cup persist due to Trump's tightened immigration policies and travel ban on 12 countries.
A memorandum obtained by Camel Live last month indicated that the Trump administration is considering significantly expanding its travel restrictions, potentially banning citizens of an additional 36 countries from entering the United States.
