Will Trump lift the World Cup as he did with Chelsea? FIFA could tear up protocol

FIFA appears ready once again to bend to Donald Trump’s wishes and overhaul a final ceremony protocol built on clear rules followed across 22 editions of the World Cup.

According to talkSPORT, the president of the United States will be present at the MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final not merely as a spectator. Gianni Infantino is reportedly prepared to allow him to remain on the podium and join the celebrations of the national team that triumphs on 19 July.

It would be - and the conditional is essential here - a unique episode in World Cup history, unseen even in the most controversial and politicised editions, such as Italy 1934, Argentina 1978 or Qatar 2022.

Under the established protocol, the trophy remains on its plinth throughout the final and is brought on to the podium only by a player from the winning team. Heads of state from host nations may touch the trophy, as has happened before, but on final day it is not supposed to end up in anyone else’s hands: the winners are the ones who collect it directly.

That ceremonial order, however, could soon be upended.
It would not be the first time. Just a year ago, Trump stayed on to celebrate with the Chelsea FC players during the ceremony for their Club World Cup triumph, prompting bemusement within the Blues squad.

“We were all standing there waiting for him to leave, but he didn’t. He looked at us and said: ‘Go ahead and lift it, I’m staying here.’ And who had the courage to say anything to him? I was literally terrified,” Marc Cucurella said at the time.

Trump even ended up taking a medal, which is still on display inside the Oval Office at the White House.

Who knows whether he will manage to collect another souvenir on 19 July.