The incident unfolded as Trump took the stage to present the World Cup trophy to the audience. While attempting to deliver an impromptu speech, he appeared to struggle with the specifics of the tournament, leading to a series of misstatements. At one point, he mistakenly referred to the World Cup as “one of the biggest Super Bowls in the world,” confusing the international soccer competition with the championship game of American football’s National Football League (NFL). The blunder immediately drew laughter and murmurs from those in attendance.
Trump, seemingly unaware of his mistake, continued his speech, adding to the confusion. He went on to claim that the United States had won multiple World Cups, despite the fact that the U.S. men’s national team has never won the tournament. “We’ve won a lot, we’ve been great, and we’re going to keep winning,” he declared, prompting puzzled reactions from FIFA officials and soccer fans worldwide. The U.S. women’s national team has won multiple Women’s World Cups, but Trump’s comments made no distinction between the men’s and women’s tournaments, adding to the inaccuracy of his remarks.
Further complicating the moment, Trump attempted to lift the World Cup trophy—an action strictly prohibited under FIFA regulations. According to FIFA’s rules, only past winners, current champions, heads of state, or high-ranking officials are allowed to touch the trophy. A FIFA representative quickly intervened, guiding Trump away from the trophy before he could violate the protocol. The former president seemed momentarily confused but continued smiling and waving to the crowd, seemingly unfazed by the awkward situation.
The internet wasted no time reacting to the embarrassing blunder. Social media platforms were flooded with clips of the moment, with soccer fans mocking Trump’s confusion between FIFA and the NFL. Memes comparing the FIFA World Cup trophy to the Vince Lombardi Trophy (awarded in the Super Bowl) quickly circulated online, and hashtags such as #TrumpSoccerFail and #WorldCupBlunder trended on Twitter.
Late-night talk show hosts also had a field day with the incident. Comedians joked about Trump’s lack of knowledge regarding soccer, a sport that has historically been less popular among many American politicians compared to other global leaders. Some compared the moment to his previous sports-related gaffes, such as his claim that he could have been a professional baseball player.
Despite the mockery, Trump’s supporters brushed off the incident, with some defending him by arguing that soccer is not his area of expertise. Others suggested that the focus should be on celebrating the United States’ role in hosting the 2026 World Cup rather than nitpicking a verbal misstep.
Regardless of political perspectives, the moment served as another reminder of Trump’s tendency to go off-script—sometimes to comedic or embarrassing effect. As the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaches, soccer fans will be hoping for a smoother lead-up to the tournament, free of similar awkward moments.
Leave a Reply