Donald Trump asked to keep the World Cup trophy as FIFA’s president brought it to the White House for a special announcement.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino visited the Oval Office on Friday with the trophy and told Trump that it is ‘only for winners’.
‘Can I keep it?’ Trump asked Infantino of the trophy, as he held it in his hands and admired it with a wide smile.
‘Seriously, it fits very well on the wall right over there. We’ll put it right below the angels.’
Trump joked: ‘We’re not giving it back! We’re not giving it back!’
All the while, the US president was wearing a signature red MAGA hat with the words: ‘Trump was right about everything!’
Infantino laughed nervously and said that the gold prize must be preserved for the winners of the World Cup next summer.
He also said that only the FIFA president, presidents of nations and winners are allowed to touch the trophy.
But instead, Infantino gave Trump the first ticket to the World Cup Final, and it was numbered 45/47, matching his numbers as US president.
Infantino went to the White House to announce that the draw for the men’s World Cup next year will take place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, on December 5.
‘We are uniting the world, Mr President, uniting the world here, in America. And we’re very proud of that,’ Infantino said.
Trump remarked: ‘The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest, most complex set of events in sports history, and the Kennedy Center will give it a phenomenal kickoff.’
The tournament will run from June 11 to July 19 in the US, Mexico and Canada.
Trump joked that he would be open to playing for US Soccer, but then remarked that his youngest son Barron Trump is a great athlete.
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