During Friday’s World Cup draw, President Donald Trump proposed that soccer should be recognized as the true “football” in the U.S., suggesting that the NFL should adopt a different name for its sport. He made this statement while on stage at the Kennedy Center alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and others, as they prepared for the group stage draw of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the three nations.
Trump remarked, “When you consider U.S. football and U.S. soccer, it seems we’ll never truly embrace the term ‘football’ because it clashes with what we already call football. However, we should consider renaming the NFL since, honestly, it doesn’t quite add up.”
Following this, the leaders participated in a ceremony to officially name their countries in the tournament. The U.S. will play in Group D, Canada in Group B, and Mexico in Group A, with Mexico City hosting the opening match on June 11th.
Additionally, FIFA President Infantino presented the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump, his “good friend,” despite the fact that the award hadn’t been endorsed by the FIFA board and came after Trump missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize earlier in the year.
Fan Take: This conversation about naming could spark a broader dialogue around soccer’s identity in the U.S. The recognition of soccer as the primary “football” may enhance the sport’s popularity and draw in more fans as the 2026 World Cup approaches.
