In a surprising moment at a major international sporting event, U.S. President Donald Trump ignited a long-standing transatlantic debate over the world's most popular game.
A Presidential Endorsement for the Beautiful Game
Speaking at the 2026 World Cup official draw held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. on Friday, December 5, 2025, Trump publicly questioned the naming conventions of American sports. He wondered aloud why North Americans use the term 'soccer' for the sport the rest of the world calls football.
"When you think about it, shouldn't it really be called football? I mean, this is football. There's no question about it," Trump stated to the audience, which included global soccer officials and dignitaries. He went further, suggesting the National Football League should be the one to find a new moniker. "We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff," he said.
Recalling Pelé and Celebrating Soccer's Rise
During his remarks, Trump reminisced about watching the legendary Brazilian player Pelé, recalling a specific memory from when Pelé played for the New York Cosmos. "I remember watching Pelé play... He scored three goals out there. I said, 'That man can play,'" Trump recounted.
The President acknowledged the historical tension between soccer and American football in the United States, calling it a "little bit of a conflict." However, he used the platform to congratulate FIFA on soccer's explosive growth in the country, noting record-breaking ticket sales and the sport's incredible leap in popularity.
Reactions and the Bigger Picture for Canada
The comments quickly drew reactions, including public praise from commentator Piers Morgan on social media platform X. The event itself was also notable for Canadian soccer fans, as it revealed the nation's path in the upcoming tournament. Canada's men's national team learned it will face host nation Qatar, Switzerland, and the winner of a European playoff in the group stage.
Trump's intervention at the World Cup draw places a global spotlight on the cultural divide over the sport's name just as North America, including Canadian cities, prepares to host the 2026 event. His advocacy for the term 'football' aligns him with most of the world's fans, even as it challenges a cornerstone of American sports lexicon.
