U.S. President Donald Trump paid homage to soccer great Pele after being met with boos and cheers from the crowd at the Club World Cup final on Sunday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Chelsea walloped Paris St Germain 3-0 to close out the newly expanded version of the tournament, designed as a glittering curtain-raiser for the 2026 World Cup that the U.S. will co-host with Mexico and Canada.

Trump was seated next to FIFA boss Gianni Infantino in box seats at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, where fans booed him when he appeared briefly on the jumbotron during the U.S. national anthem.

He was on his feet in the same VIP suite after Chelsea completed their thrashing of Paris St Germain, pumping his fist as congratulatory music blared.

Trump was met with boos from the crowd again as he posed with the match referees on the pitch during the trophy ceremony, as organisers kept the music pumping in the stadium.

He handed Chelsea their trophy and stood in the middle of the players for their team photo and celebration.

“I knew he was going to be there but I didn’t know he was going to be on the stand when we lifted the trophy so I was a bit confused,” said Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer, who scored two goals during the match.

Asked in a TV interview who he believed was soccer’s “GOAT,” Trump named Brazilian icon Pele, who helped spark interest in the sport in the U.S. in his brief time playing for the New York Cosmos in the fledgling North American Soccer League in 1975.

“I came to watch Pele, and he was fantastic,” Trump told broadcaster DAZN. “That’s like saying Babe Ruth, but I would say Pele was so great.”

Trump has embraced sport’s super-sized spotlight during his second term, becoming the first sitting president to attend a Super Bowl in February.

In May, he announced D.C. as the host for the 2027 NFL Draft from the Oval Office. He regularly attends UFC and has said he wants to host such fights at the White House next year.

FIFA announced last week that it had opened an office in New York’s Trump Tower ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S. will co-host with Canada and Mexico. A record 48 national teams are set to take part.

Trump’s appearance at MetLife came a day after he threatened to impose a 30% tariff on imports from Mexico and the European Union, an escalation of a trade war that has angered U.S. allies and rattled investors.

-Reuters

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Cole Palmer produced a scintillating first-half masterclass as Chelsea demolished Paris St Germain 3-0 to win the Club World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium on Sunday.

The English attacking midfielder scored twice and provided an assist for Joao Pedro in a devastating display in the revamped tournament’s decider that left the European and French champions, who finished with 10 men, shell-shocked before the break.

Chelsea struck first in the 22nd minute when PSG fullback Nuno Mendes gifted possession to Malo Gusto. While his initial effort was blocked by Mendes, Gusto collected the rebound and found Palmer unmarked in the middle and the midfielder made no mistake, slotting a tidy finish just inside the left post.

Palmer doubled the lead after the 30th-minute cooling break with a goal of sublime quality. Latching onto a precise through ball from Levi Colwill, he cut inside before faking a pass to dummy a defender and firing into the bottom-left corner.

Palmer then turned provider, running up the channel before finding Joao Pedro, who took the ball in his stride and beat the offside trap before chipping his finish beautifully over keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

PSG’s misery was completed when Joao Neves was sent off for pulling Marc Cucurella’s hair in the 83rd minute.

-Reuters

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Football’s global spotlight turns to the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, US, this Sunday. Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain will face off in a blockbuster FIFA Club World Cup final. The match promises drama, flair, and tactical intrigue.

It’s a clash of European giants in the United States. Two clubs have elite squads and global fanbases. They have burning ambitions to be crowned the best club team on the planet.

Chelsea’s Road to the Final

The Premier League outfit has looked sharp throughout the tournament, showcasing a blend of youthful energy and seasoned experience.

Chelsea have rediscovered their edge under manager Enzo Maresca. Standout performances have come from midfield metronome Enzo Fernández. In-form winger Raheem Sterling and rising sensation Cole Palmer are also excelling.

In the semi-final, they dispatched South American champions Fluminense with clinical precision, recording a 2–0 victory that underlined their defensive organisation and attacking fluidity.

Key to Chelsea’s form has been their ability to press high, recover possession quickly, and exploit space in transition—traits that will be vital against PSG’s star-studded frontline.

PSG: The Final Frontier

For Paris Saint-Germain, the Club World Cup represents an opportunity to conquer a major title that has eluded them, even as they dominate French football.

Manager Luis Enrique has built a more balanced, team-focused PSG side, less reliant on individual brilliance and more on tactical structure.

 History Beckons

Neither club has lifted the Club World Cup before, making this a potentially historic night. Chelsea were beaten finalists in 2012, while PSG are making their debut appearance in the final. The hunger, therefore, will be palpable on both sides.

Whether it’s Chelsea’s cohesion or PSG’s explosive talent that prevails, one thing is certain—this Club World Cup final promises to be an unforgettable encounter.

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