Donald Trump managed to walk away with one of soccer's prized trophies in the summer, but a century-old rule ensured he wouldn't be doing it with the World Cup.
When Chelsea won the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Donald Trump made sure he was front and center.
After presenting the trophy with Gianni Infantino, the president lingered awkwardly on stage during the celebrations, leaving players like Cole Palmer and Reece James visibly confused by his presence.
However, much like the Spanish team did, Chelsea edited him out of their photos.
Donald Trump did linger on stage during Spain's 2026 World Cup trophy lift , but FIFA president Gianni Infantino stepped in to escort him to the side.
When Gianni Infantino unveiled the original Tiffany & Co. Club World Cup trophy at the White House, Donald Trump asked when FIFA would collect it. Infantino casually replied that Trump could keep the launch edition permanently for the Oval Office, prompting FIFA to commission a second version.
That meant when Chelsea defeated PSG at MetLife Stadium, Reece James and his teammates were hoisted a brand-new replica.
Unlike the Club World Cup, the official FIFA World Cup Trophy is strictly off-limits to permanent ownership. Handcrafted from solid 18-carat gold, the iconic prize is legally owned by FIFA and permanently housed under tight security at their Zurich headquarters.
Even winning national teams are only allowed to lift the trophy for post-match photos before FIFA quietly swaps it for a gold-plated replica.
Because the original trophy never leaves FIFA's possession, a rule locked in after the previous Jules Rimet trophy was stolen twice, meaning not even Trump could lobby Infantino for an Oval Office exception.
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