Chelsea Football Club’s monumental triumph at the FIFA Club World Cup on Sunday, July 13, 2025, remains a topic of widespread discussion, not solely for their 3-0 demolition of Paris Saint-Germain, but for the bizarre interlude featuring US President Donald Trump during the trophy celebrations.
While the footballing world hailed Cole Palmer’s dazzling two-goal, one-assist performance that secured the historic win, it was Spanish defender Marc Cucurella’s candid revelations that truly painted the scene of discomfort on the podium.
Cucurella, speaking to the Daily Mail and other outlets, made no secret of his unease regarding President Trump’s prolonged presence.
He described a pre-ceremony briefing where players were explicitly told Trump would present the trophy and then depart, allowing the team to celebrate freely.
“We had been told that, as a rule, Donald Trump would come to present us with the trophy and that we couldn’t lift it until he left,” Cucurella explained.
“And of course, we were all there waiting for him to leave, but the guy didn’t want to leave, and on top of that, we looked at him and he said, ‘Get him up, I’ll stay here,’ and so on.”
The former Getafe star articulated the palpable awkwardness that spread through the squad. He noted how Captain Reece James hesitated, looking uncertain about lifting the coveted trophy with the US President still firmly rooted amongst them, even with Trump’s hands reportedly resting on James’ shoulders.
For Cucurella, the situation was particularly unsettling. “And I wondered who would say anything to him, you know, I was very scared of his presence,” he admitted, highlighting a sense of intimidation that few professional athletes would expect on their moment of glory.
While other players, like Cole Palmer, expressed “confusion” and James himself alluded to the moment simply showing “how big the tournament is,” Cucurella’s frankness cuts through any attempts to downplay the incident.
His fear and bewilderment underscore how an unexpected political intervention momentarily overshadowed what should have been an unadulterated celebration of Chelsea’s remarkable achievement.
