EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — President Donald Trump participated in the FIFA Club World Cup award ceremony after Chelsea beat Paris Saint-Germain, 3-0, in Sunday’s final.
He joined FIFA president Gianni Infantino on the pitch at MetLife Stadium, where fans audibly booed before he stood and waved to the crowd.
The President and First Lady left their box suite at 5:27 p.m. ET, according to the White House pool report. Trump and Infantino walked onto the pitch 15 minutes later, ‘appeared on the jumbotron, and were booed again. There was also some applause, whistling and cheering. The music in the stadium then drowned the boos.’
Trump was second in line behind Infantino to congratulate players and coaches after the match. He shook players’ hands, giving some a pat on the back as they walked by him on stage. He handed PSG’s Désiré Doué the young player of the tournament award, Chelsea goalkeeper Robert Sánchez the golden glove and Cole Palmer the golden ball for MVP of the match. Palmer scored the first two of Chelsea’s three goals.
Trump then put medals around the necks of all the referees for the match. The fans booed louder when Trump and Infantino posed with the referees for a photo.
After the awards presentation, Chelsea players gathered to accept the trophy and celebrate as a team. Trump stood with the Chelsea players as they waited to raise the trophy. Infantino eventually pulled Trump behind the players so the team could celebrate.
After the ceremony, Trump was interviewed on the DAZN broadcast and asked who he would consider his GOAT in soccer.
‘Many years ago when I was young, they brought a player named Pelé to play, and he played for a team called the Cosmos,’ Trump responded. ‘… and this place was packed. It was an earlier version of this stadium, but right here in the Meadowlands, and it was Pelé. I don’t want to date myself, but that was a long time ago. I was a young guy, and I came to watch Pelé and he was fantastic.’
Speaking to reporters on the tarmac after the game, Trump said, ‘It was a little bit of an upset I guess you would say, but it was a great, great match, very well played, tremendous crowd.’
USA TODAY reporter Francesa Chambers contributed to this report.