Why Trump Kept the Real Club World Cup Trophy While Chelsea Lifted a Replica
- Chelsea was handed a replica instead of the original FIFA Club World Cup trophy after their triumph at the final
- U.S. President Donald Trump, who was at the heart of the celebrations, later disclosed the location of the real trophy
- FIFA has yet to confirm if Chelsea will keep the replica trophy permanently or if it will be returned
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U.S. President Donald Trump was handed the original FIFA Club World Cup trophy before Chelsea's win in the final of the inaugural edition of the expanded tournament.
Following Chelsea’s 3-0 victory in the final on Sunday, Trump took part in the medal presentation ceremony.
Source: Getty Images
As celebrations erupted among Chelsea’s players, the polarising American president unexpectedly joined the group and stood right in the middle of their jubilant huddle.
But according to Trump himself, the trophy James held aloft was not the real one.
Why Chelsea lifted a 'fake' trophy
In an interview with DAZN, Trump made the surprising claim that the real Club World Cup trophy was sitting in his office at the White House.
The trophy, uniquely designed to shift from a flat plate to a golden spiral using a special key, is a prized creation by Tiffany & Co.
It also features the name of FIFA President Gianni Infantino carved into it twice, per the Daily Mail.
Source: Getty Images
Trump explained that the trophy had been brought to the White House back in March as part of FIFA’s promotion tour for the newly expanded Club World Cup.
During that visit, Trump publicly praised Infantino, calling him “the king of soccer, I guess, in a certain way.”
Although Infantino may be FIFA’s frontman, it seems Trump secured the top prize for himself.
He told DAZN that FIFA had no intention of taking the trophy back:
“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.’ And they actually made a new one. So that was quite exciting, but it is in the Oval [Office] right now.”
Is Chelsea’s trophy different from Trump’s?
So far, no official distinctions have been made between the trophy Trump claims to have and the one Chelsea lifted.
FIFA has not clarified whether Chelsea will be allowed to keep the version they were awarded or if it will remain a temporary symbol like in UEFA competitions.
In UEFA tournaments, the original trophies are typically presented at the ceremony but later returned and swapped for replicas that the clubs take home.
UEFA regulations, such as Article 11, also strictly govern the handling and ownership of competition trophies.
Adding to the oddity of the occasion, post-match footage appeared to show Trump pocketing one of the winners’ medals.
Trump’s trophy drama leaves Chelsea fans confused
Donald Trump’s unexpected role in Chelsea’s Club World Cup celebrations has left fans scratching their heads.
Beyond joining the medal ceremony, new reports reveal he stayed in the team’s dressing room for over 20 minutes after the final whistle. Some Chelsea players felt awkward about his extended presence, with a few even joking later that he acted as if he had played in the match himself.
Critics argue that Trump overshadowed the team’s historic win by making the occasion about him rather than their hard work. His security detail also reportedly blocked journalists from getting post-match interviews with the squad.
This trophy drama has now left Chelsea supporters wondering why FIFA allowed such political involvement in a purely football moment. Many believe this has robbed the Blues of their rightful spotlight after their stunning 3-0 win.
Some fans described the scenes as surreal, saying it felt more like a political rally than a football final. Others were simply left disappointed that the team’s celebration was not fully theirs to own.
Chelsea players mock Arsenal with Madueke joke
Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Chelsea stars took a lighthearted swipe at rivals Arsenal following their dominant 3-0 win over PSG in the Club World Cup final.
The playful banter centred around winger Noni Madueke, who is set to join the Gunners but missed the celebrations.
Source: YEN.com.gh
