NEW YORK — What was meant to be a celebration of global football quickly descended into a surreal spectacle of sporting humiliation, presidential provocation, and scuffles fit for a boxing ring. The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup Final, held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, saw Chelsea crush Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 but it wasn’t Cole Palmer’s performance or the lifted trophy that grabbed headlines. It was the chaos unfolding off the pitch.
Trump, the Guest Who Hijacked the Show
Invited to present medals, Donald Trump, who appeared largely uninterested in the match (as evidenced by cameras capturing him dozing off), decided to turn the official ceremony into The Trump Show. Despite FIFA President Gianni Infantino urging him to exit after handing over the trophy, Trump refused to leave the stage.
Chelsea captain Reece James and goalkeeper Robert Sanchez had to directly ask him to step aside so the team could celebrate together. Trump stood firm. As a result, the Blues hoisted their trophy with a former U.S. President awkwardly lodged in the middle of the team photo, like a party guest refusing to leave.
The crowd was not amused. Initially cheered upon arrival, Trump was roundly booed as soon as his face appeared on the stadium’s giant screen. The message was clear: even in the world of football, Trump remains a deeply polarizing figure.
Luis Enrique: From Defeat to Physical Assault
But the actual shock came minutes later, courtesy of PSG. Under immense pressure following a difficult season, head coach Luis Enrique completely lost control.
As Chelsea celebrated, the Spanish manager was seen violently grabbing Chelsea forward Joao Pedro by the throat and forcing him to the ground, in full view of stunned journalists and live cameras. This triggered a series of brawls between players and staff from both sides, turning the pitch into a battlefield.
Facing the press, Enrique attempted to downplay the incident, claiming he was merely “trying to defuse a tense situation.”
“It’s the pressure, the stress… It wasn’t the right time, I just wanted to separate the players.”
But video footage tells a different story: Enrique clearly assaults Pedro, sparking outrage from Chelsea’s bench and staff.
A Humbled PSG, a Dominant Chelsea
On the football front, the night belonged to Chelsea, who delivered a powerhouse performance led by Cole Palmer’s brace and a goal from Joao Pedro, the unfortunate target of Enrique’s fury. For PSG, it was another missed title, emotional meltdown, and coaching crisis.
In the post-match conference, Enrique attempted a motivational spin:
“We are not losers. A loser is someone who gives up.”
The statement fell flat — empty rhetoric after an embarrassing public outburst.
A Taste of What’s to Come in 2026?
This episode raises important questions: Is FIFA ready for 2026? If this final was a dress rehearsal for the next global football tournament hosted in the United States, then the preview was worrying.
With Trump eyeing a return to the White House and making increasingly intrusive appearances in the sports world, and coaches like Enrique losing composure on the world stage, football risks becoming a sideshow in a geopolitical circus.
Conclusion: Football or Political Theatre?
The 2025 FIFA Club World Cup crowned a champion; Chelsea, who dominated where it mattered. But behind the scenes, ego, disorder, and spectacle prevailed. The beautiful game deserves more than a stage hijacked by political vanity and sideline violence.
One thing is sure: global football has entered a new era ; one where politics, showmanship, and controversy often eclipse the sport itself.
