As Miami heats up with soccer fever, a prerecorded message from President-elect Donald Trump was played to an audience eagerly anticipating the FIFA Club World Cup draw. Trump's message was a clear kick-off to the event, where he indicated that soccer is on an upward trajectory, stating it is going "through the roof," as reported by WSVN.
Attending the ceremony in person were Ivanka Trump, Jared Kushner, and their son Theo, contributing to the family's presence in the world of sports diplomacy. The draw was a crucial moment for the expanded 32-team tournament, which will see stars from Spain's Real Madrid, England's Manchester City, and Major League Soccer club, Inter Miami, which boasts Lionel Messi as a player, compete on U.S. soil next year. The tournament promises to bring a smorgasbord of international soccer talent to cities across America.
As reported by WSVN, Trump showered FIFA President Gianni Infantino with compliments, asserting that “I will try and be there if I can, I would. We’ll see what happens. But I just want to say you’re led by a man named Gianni. I just know him as Gianni and he’s a winner and he’s the president, and I’m the president. And we’ve known each other a long time, and I’m so honored to have this kind of a relationship because soccer is going through the roof. As everybody knows, it’s been doing fantastically well.” Echoing a sentiment of camaraderie, Trump mentioned his longstanding relationship with Infantino.
The Club World Cup, set to take the pitch in 11 U.S. cities from June 15 to July 13, marks a significant moment in soccer's American journey. As reported by AP News, the world cup event will bring an international flair to local stadiums every four years, making it a recurring spectacle for fans to anticipate.
Moreover, Trump didn't miss the opportunity to touch base about the 2026 men's World Cup, which is expected to spread its wings over the United States, Canada, and Mexico. His pride in the role played by both himself and Infantino in securing the event for North America was palpable when he remarked, “I want to say my highest regards in respect to Gianni, and it’s an honor to be with you and we’ll be with you very soon. And we’re going to be watching the World Cup, very importantly, also very soon. And I was very responsible, along with Gianni in getting it. And it’s going to be a fantastic thing,” as noted by WSVN.
