Latest news with #GianniInfantino
New York Times
7 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Messi delivers a show-stopping moment the Club World Cup, Miami and MLS needed
ATLANTA – The chants echoed throughout Mercedes-Benz Stadium as Inter Miami's superstar No. 10 walked the pitch after scoring the winner against Porto on Thursday. 'Messi! Messi! Messi!' The vast majority of the 30,000-plus fans in attendance stood and worshipped their football idol. Their arms raised, men, women and children in pink Miami shirts, Barcelona colors and Argentina national team kits bowed their heads in awe. Their hero had delivered an improbable and unprecedented win for an MLS team over a European opponent in official competition. Advertisement Lionel Messi's free kick from just outside the Porto penalty area in the 54th minute provided this Club World Cup with its first magical moment. Inter Miami defeated Porto 2-1 and gave this controversial tournament something even its most ardent detractors could celebrate. And that's precisely why FIFA president Gianni Infantino made sure to include Miami in the tournament at all costs. Miami took the tournament's host slot despite only claiming the MLS' Supporters' Shield trophy in 2024. That award is given to the team that earns the most points over the course of an MLS regular season, and while that is enough to be crowned champion in most leagues around the world, America's first division ends with a playoff format – one that Miami crashed out of in the first round last season. The Supporters' Shield has also lost its prestige, a byproduct of the postseason that can be harsh even on the strongest teams. So, Miami's inclusion in the Club World Cup came with an asterisk, but Miami's participation meant that Messi would be a must-see attraction for as long as his side stayed alive. There are plenty of global football stars in the U.S. this summer, and some massive football brands, too. But even at 37 (and turning 38 next week), and having lost the burst that made him nearly unstoppable during his peak Barcelona years, Messi can still carry a tournament on his own. FIFA needed the big European clubs to arrive on U.S. shores willing to compete this summer. And FIFA needed a moment like the one we witnessed on Thursday to justify Miami's contentious invitation. At a tournament without Cristiano Ronaldo or Lamine Yamal, and with Kylian Mbappé's availability for Real Madrid in question, the old hand of Messi was needed to hold up a competition in dire need of a spark. Messi answered the call in typical fashion on Thursday. A quiet first half in which the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner coasted in and out of midfield resulted in few highlights for Miami's No. 10. Porto took the lead when Samuel Aghehowa converted from the penalty spot in the eighth minute. At that moment, it appeared as if the football gods would not be in Messi's corner. Advertisement After all, Miami's sometimes-pitiful form in MLS play this season did little to inspire any hope that the club would remain alive after two matches. A resounding equalizer from Venezuelan international Telasco Segovia two minutes into the second half set the stage for what would be a remarkable result for Miami. When Chilean referee Cristián Marcelo Garay blew his whistle after Messi fell to ground near Porto's 18, there was no doubt what would come next. 'Whenever there's a free kick from that close, there's always a chance — especially with a player like Leo, who can strike the ball to the keeper's side or over the wall,' said Miami midfielder Sergio Busquets. 'We tried to block the keeper's vision a bit, and then the rest took care of itself.' Inside the press tribune, scores of reporters took out their phones and began to record as Messi lined up the free kick. When one has the opportunity to watch him play, there's always a hope that something memorable will occur. Nearly two years ago, Messi and Miami were in a similar situation. Miami was facing Mexican side Cruz Azul in Leagues Cup, a concocted tournament that pits MLS clubs against their regional rivals south of the U.S. border. Tied 1-1, Messi hunched over the ball after earning a foul and then proceeded to casually place his free kick the goalkeeper's right just under the cross bar for a 95th-minute winner. That moment announced his U.S. arrival. On Thursday, he let the world know that he can still change a game at any given moment. 53' ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? 🐐 Messi scores a GORGEOUS free kick goal and @InterMiami are now leading 2-1 versus @FCPorto! Watch the @FIFACWC | June 14 – July 13 | Every Game | Free | | #FIFACWC #TakeItToTheWorld #MIAFCP — DAZN Football (@DAZNFootball) June 19, 2025 'I saw that the (Porto) goalkeeper was standing slightly in the middle, being close to goal I knew it would be difficult to put it over the wall,' Messi told DAZN after the match. 'I took advantage of the opening that goalkeeper gave me. He was standing centrally and wasn't covering his post and that's where I went.' Advertisement Added Miami defender Marcelo Weigandt: 'It was extraordinary. I was standing right behind him, and when I saw the ball take off with such power, I said, 'That's it.' And well, honestly, it was a great goal. But we're already used to this kind of thing.' On the same day that Seattle Sounders lost 3-1 to Atlético Madrid, leaving the MLS club with slim hopes to advance, Miami's win was a boon for the league. 'Maybe the rest of the world doesn't really know what level the MLS is at,' Miami forward Fafa Picault said. 'Maybe (people) still see (MLS) as being at the same level it was 20 years ago, but that's no longer the case. There's a lot of quality in the league and very good teams.' 'We're very happy, obviously,' Messi said. 'The entire team worked really hard today. It was a good performance. Not only did we defend well, but throughout the first half and after the 2-1, we possessed the ball well. Again, we're happy because we ended the first match with a sour taste in our mouths. We felt we could've won that game, but of course we could've lost it too. (Al Ahly) had a penalty. It's a very important win for us and we'll celebrate it.' FIFA knew that it would take heat after giving Miami a spot in the tournament, but even the naysayers understood what was at stake. It's more than likely that Messi will not be an active player when the Club World Cup takes place four years from now. If Infantino wanted to ride the tidal wave of interest that Messi has created in the U.S., and boost a tournament that critics don't believe in, he needed Miami in the competition. He needed Messi and he needed Messi to perform. Miami remains alive heading into its final group match against Palmeiras. It'll be another massive test for a Miami side that is prone to inconsistency. The Brazilian club has looked like the top team in the group and will aim to keep Messi and Miami from extending their stay. Throughout Messi's career, a phrase has been repeated by fans and pundits as a sign of reverence, especially after a game-winning performance. Messi. Siempre Messi. (It's always Messi). On Thursday in Atlanta, Porto understood exactly what that saying means. Messi did it again. Siempre Messi. You can sign up to DAZN to watch every FIFA Club World Cup game free.
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Forbes
Magical Lionel Messi Earns Shock Inter Miami Win
Inter Miami has defeated FC Porto 2-1 at the FIFA 2025 Club World Cup. It's a shock result that puts Lionel Messi's MLS side second in Group A. The moment that Inter Miami was waiting for. The moment that Lionel Messi was waiting for. The moment that Gianni Infantino was waiting for. A simply stunning free-kick from Messi to put the MLS side 2-1 up against FC Porto. Finally some real stardust has been sprinkled over this tournament. Trademark Messi from the edge of the box. The Argentina legend stepped up and rasped the ball into the top corner. The free-kick position was so central that Messi might have gone either way, the goalkeeper dared not guess but then he was beaten on his own side. He didn't even see it coming. It was a genius strike from the number 10. Impeccable execution, hit with purpose, this was vintage Lionel and he has finally left his mark on this tournament. A shock result from the Mercedes-Benz stadium in Atlanta, and a historic one for the MLS. When Lionel Messi put Luis Suárez through on goal in the first half it was still 1-0 to Porto, and Suárez squandered the opportunity. He looked a million miles off the player he used to be. The Uruguayan was well off the pace and that summed up Miami's championship until that point. Miraculously, that all changed in the second period. Inter Miami were 2-1 up in the 54th minute and held onto that result to leapfrog the Portuguese side in the group. The first shock victory of the tournament has been produced by David Beckham's veteran stars. The result also means that Brazilian side Palmeiras will confirm top of the group by drawing their final game with Inter Miami. Plameiras defeated Al Ahly earlier on Thursday. This would be fantastic news for South American football after an already brilliant start to the tournament for the CONMEBOL teams. In the final round of games, Inter Miami will face off with Palmeiras of Brazil, and Porto will take on Al Ahly. It's still all to play for. A heavy victory or defeat for each team could leave them in or out of the tournament on match day three of the group stage. Inter Miami looked down and out in this tournament. The team didn't show up in their opener against Al Ahly and they didn't start strong against Porto either. Miami was 1-0 down after just eight minutes and it's fair to say that everyone would have written off the South Florida side from group progression at that point. Now the men in pink can make a shock escape from this extremely tight group. Al Ahly and Porto need to win and hope Inter Miami and Palmeiras don't draw on the final day of group games. That result would confirm the exit of Al Ahly and Porto from the tournament no matter who wins their game. Therefore, a cagey low scoring draw could be the obvious outcome when the MLS side take on the Brazilians.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
DAZN hosts put on leggy displays in bold Club World Cup outfits as Diletta Leotta enjoys David Beckham encounter
DAZN presenter Eleonora Incardona put on a leggy display in an eye-catching Club World Cup outfit. The Italian has been touring the States as part of DAZN 's coverage of the tournament. 20 20 20 20 20 Her latest trip has seen her touch down in Seattle, Washington, having previously been in LA where she posed for her own photoshoot. Eleonora stunned in high-waisted short shorts, which put her legs on full display. She paired the shorts with a red top and cowboy boots, getting into the American spirit. The presenter captioned her post on Instagram: "Living the American dream ❤️" Fans loved the look with one commenting: "Your thighs are a UNESCO heritage site." Her DAZN colleague Diletta Leotta is also making the most of her time across the pond. She has interviewed Fifa president Gianni Infantino and even bumped into David Beckham in Miami. Diletta took a snap with the former Manchester United star and shared how proud she was to be part of the Club World Cup journey. Pep Guardiola joined by daughter Valentina on Man City bench at Club World Cup clash A glimpse inside Diletta's glamorous life with partner Loris Karius... 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20
Telegraph
a day ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Inside Donald Trump's extraordinary bromance with Gianni Infantino
Gianni Infantino was in the Oval Office almost seven years ago when he introduced Donald Trump, then in his first term as president of the United States, to the concept of football's yellow and red cards. The Fifa president was a much less globally established figure in 2018 – just a few weeks past his first World Cup finals at the head of the organisation he had ruled since shortly after its 2015 crisis. Trump was then effusive in his praise of Infantino's efforts to secure the United States the 2026 World Cup finals, although regretted that he would not be in office when the tournament arrived. 'The media is going to be very boring,' Trump riffed, as his mind wandered to 2026 and the possibility of a post-Trump White House. 'It's going to be very boring. They'll all be out of business, I guess.' As Trump brought matters to a close, Infantino managed to take control for a few seconds to explain the refereeing cards that he had brought Trump as a novelty gift. 'Yellow card is a warning,' Infantino said, 'and when you want to kick out some… like this'. He raised the card in the time-honoured fashion and Trump looked delighted. He had been handed the perfect visual joke which gave him the chance to take centre-stage. Trump took the red and brandished it in the direction of the media. The cameras clicked. And then it was back to questions about who might pay for the border wall with Mexico. The rise of Infantino, the Swiss lawyer who became the most powerful man in sport, or at least its most powerful broker, is an extraordinary tale. His presidency itself has been built on not one but two US World Cups endorsed by Trump. And another delivered to the Saudi Arabia ruler, Crown-Prince Mohamed Bin-Salman – to whom Trump is often said to have smoothed the path. That meeting, in 2018, demonstrated something as true then as it is now: Infantino has learned – ahead of many of the leaders of European nations – how to manage Trump in public and private. And he was at it again last night. The Fifa president was back at the White House with a selection of Juventus players and management in the early hours of Thursday, British time. Trump shook hands with the two US players in the side – Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah – and then Infantino and the players stood around while the US president expounded on the big questions of the day, none of which were Fifa Club World Cup -related. There was the potential for US intervention in the Israel-Iran conflict and his opposition to the Iranian state having a nuclear weapon. But it was to Infantino whom Trump went back again and again as the straight man for his quips. He joked about the scarcity of tickets for Juve's game a few hours later, a 5-0 win against Al-Ain, and whether Infantino could get some for his friends. Then later, when Trump finally had a question that he liked, he turned to his friend and chuckled, 'One out of 10, Gianni, one out of 10'. Infantino beamed back. For others, like the Juve party, life in proximity to Trump can be utterly baffling. At one point, Trump, musing on trans rights, asked them: 'Could a woman make your team?' Later, mid-point about B52 stealth bombers, Trump turned to the bewildered players and asked: 'You guys want to be stealthy, right?' But each time Infantino was called upon to respond to, or sustain, a Trump joke, he knew exactly what to do. He never misses a chance to emphasise the US role in the two Fifa tournaments being staged there currently and next year – and with good reason. From Trump, Infantino has the biggest economy in the world in which to stage Fifa's most lucrative event, the 2026 men's World Cup finals. Infantino also has the US for his personal project: the 32-team Club World Cup that began on Saturday. The latter is a blatant grab at the lucrative elite-club broadcast rights. A declaration of war with Uefa and European domestic leagues over the calendar. It would be right to say that it is by far the most disruptive event ever conceived of and forced through on the say-so of a Fifa president. How many will attend, stream or watch may just be a side issue. Infantino has consolidated power with two key world leaders as fond of disruption as he is himself. The Trump-Infantino bromance is strong, for now. Trump has personally chaired televised World Cup press announcements, posed with the Tiffany & Co designed Club World Cup trophy, and lavished praise on Infantino. While Bin-Salman who has done something even more important: he has paid for the whole thing. Centre-stage with Trump again this week, the question once again is: how did Infantino get here? Infantino's rise after Fifa corruption Ten years ago, at the age of 45, Infantino emerged from the wreckage of the careers of his Fifa predecessor Sepp Blatter and his former boss, Uefa president Michel Platini, to seize power at Fifa. He did so on his famous 'Fifa 2.0' ticket – promising a departure from the corruption of the past. When Swiss police swooped on the Baur au Lac hotel in Zurich on May 27, 2015, to arrest Fifa executives, they did so as part of an FBI operation to take Fifa out at the knees. It was the 2010 vote for the 2018 and 2022 World Cup finals that had humiliated the 2022 US bid and piqued the interest of another US president, Bill Clinton. Post-White House he had given his support to US 2022 and was in Zurich when the US polled just three Fifa executive committee votes in the first round. If Clinton's interest in Fifa and football was awakened before 2010, then Fifa certainly had his full attention now. Soon the power of the FBI was concentrated on Fifa and, within five years, the Blatter power structure had been dismantled. In the aftermath of May 2015, Fifa had turned to a Clinton-friendly institution to begin the 'Fifa 2.0' project. That was the crisis management and public affairs advisory Teneo, staffed by a number of former Clinton advisers, many of whom had worked on the US 2022 bid. Later that year Infantino was voted on to Fifa's reform committee and in the following February he was elected to the presidency. He was endorsed by many as the man to clean up Fifa, including the English Football Association. Eight months later, the US presidential elections delivered a shock. Instead of Hillary, and a second Clinton family presidency, it was Trump. Why Trump backed US World Cup bid Infantino needed the 2026 World Cup – the first awarded in his presidency – to go to the world's most powerful nation. Fifa needed the commercial deals and the big international brands to return, as well as the US ticket and hospitality market. Improbably, Trump seemed to like it, too. The world stage, and the US competence at global events, seemed to catch his famously butterfly attention. He was impressed by Infantino in a way one would not imagine Trump would be, when presented with a middle-aged Swiss lawyer in suit and tie. Perhaps that was because Trump's youngest child Barron, now 19, was a keen football fan and had told his father that Infantino was a serious figure. Trump considered the 2026 bid important enough that it stayed in the family. While bidding is the responsibility of national associations, in this case the US Soccer Federation (USSF), the point of contact in the White House was a familiar face. That was Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who had been part of the government's support for Los Angeles' successful bid for the 2028 Olympics. Political patronage is required for any successful World Cup bid in order to sign the demanding legal guarantees Fifa requires on visa and tax issues. The USSF would eventually build a tripartite bid with its Mexican and Canadian counterparts – but Trump barely ever mentions the involvement of those two nations. Indeed, when Infantino nervously added the co-hosts to a conversation during a press briefing at the White House last month, Trump praised him for gabbling the names of both countries quickly. With Fifa coming out of a crisis and looking for a safe home for the 2026 finals, many feel that it would always be the US and its two junior partners. The only rival that announced itself before the 2017 deadline was Morocco, a perennial failed World Cup bidder, which would have represented a huge commercial and logistical risk for Fifa. Nevertheless, Trump's propensity to offend some or all of the 211 Fifa member nations ahead of the 2018 vote could not be underestimated. Infantino would have to work hard to deliver a US World Cup in 2026. First there were the immigration laws introduced in Trump's first term that were potentially objectionable to many of the nations voting. There was also Trump's widely reported ' s---hole countries ' remark in January 2018, made privately to a group of senators, and directed at Central American and African countries which had high levels of immigration into the US. But Infantino wanted the US and its two neighbours to host 2026. Kushner had Bin Salman onside. The public backing of Saudi Arabia for US 2026 was regarded as crucial. Infantino would later host Trump at Davos as his guest of honour in 2019. That year, Fifa even managed to navigate the embarrassment of the US women's World Cup winner Megan Rapinoe, and other team-mates, refusing to visit the White House. This was a relationship to be protected at all costs. As for the vote on the 2026 venue, Morocco never got close. The US polled more than double the number of votes as Morocco at the Fifa Congress at the Russia World Cup in June 2018. Infantino had delivered for Trump, and, for a self-declared transactional president, that seemed to resonate. Saudi backing key to Club World Cup Even before the 2018 Fifa vote in Moscow, Infantino had been discussing the possibility of a new competition: an expanded, four-yearly summer global club competition that would take precedence over its existing Club World Cup. Not that the new Club World Cup would replace the pre-existing one. That December competition would eventually be rebranded the Fifa Intercontinental Cup, as it once was in a previous iteration. Originally the competition was to be backed by the Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, itself backed by Saudi Arabia – a huge investment of £25 billion and a first tournament in China in 2021. Then football was turned upside down by Covid, the European Super League breakaway and its backlash. Infantino was notably slow to add his voice to the condemnation of the Super League. The New York Times would later report it had seen documents that showed Infantino had struck an agreement with the 12 Super League clubs to back the project in return for their support for his Club World Cup. La Liga president Javier Tebas publicly alleged the same. Infantino is not, however, easily deterred. Although the 2021 Club World Cup never went ahead, the idea of the tournament did not go away. Only at the Club World Cup of December 2023 did Fifa finally announce the expanded 32-team format, a qualification principle and some dates for the tournament. It did so in a hotel in Jeddah with the details briefed by Fifa officials while Infantino himself declined to do any interviews with media. Unlike his predecessor Blatter, who could not resist the adversarial press conference, Infantino never offers himself for interview. Or at least not those who might ask awkward questions. His main Club World Cup preview to date has been with the US YouTuber Darren Watkins, known under the moniker 'iShowSpeed'. 🚨| BREAKING: FIFA President Gianni Infantino just pulled up on Speed's stream and brought him the official kickoff ball for the first Club World Cup match 🤯🔥 — Speedy HQ (@IShowSpeedHQ) May 23, 2025 Defeat for Trump in the election of November 2020 had left Infantino with a problem. The administration of president Joe Biden was not nearly as keen on Fifa and Infantino, and Fifa had a double-commitment in the US. Not only was it planning for 2026, but it was scrambling to do the same for the Club World Cup one year earlier. Remarkably, the 11 Club World Cup host cities were announced as late as last September. Infantino threw Inter Miami – and Lionel Messi – into the competition with an impromptu announcement in October. The $1billion (£850 million) global broadcast deal with DAZN was announced in December. In May, Fifa ejected the Mexican club Leon over multi-club ownership rules. Only at the start of this month did they stage a play-off between Major League Soccer's LAFC and Mexico's Club America to decide a replacement, won by the former. It has been last minute all the way. Infantino has the tiger by the tail Trump had complained in 2018 that he would be out of office by the time the Fifa show arrived. Then in December last year his election victory returned him to the White House and, amid the tumult of his second term, reignited the Infantino partnership. The Fifa president has not missed an opportunity to court Trump and his inner circle. He was even late for his own Fifa Congress in May in Paraguay having overstayed with the Trump tour of the Middle East – a move that prompted a walkout by western European national associations, including the English FA. Infantino may argue in private that he has to play by the Trump rules. Fifa is wedded to the US and its volatile president for the next 13 months – and the commercial success of 2026 is crucial to Fifa. On one side, Infantino has the most divergent institutions around the globe, and many among them will find Trump's policies and remarks abhorrent. On the other side, the Fifa president knows that to retain power he must generate revenue for his 211 members and with the Club World Cup he aims eventually to tear a big slice of that off his Uefa rivals. History suggests that as long as Infantino can come up with the cash, his membership might be prepared to hold their noses. So far Trump has been a powerful ally, but also one that will not hesitate to retaliate if he feels slighted. Infantino has the tiger, but only by its tail. That said, Infantino knows Trump well. The US president agreed in March to an appearance with the Club World Cup trophy in which Infantino seemed keen to test the power of Trump's oft-mentioned fondness for golden objects. The concentric rings could be moved into different positions, Infantino demonstrated, when unlocked by a key. Infantino handed it to the US president amid applause. 'That is something, huh?' Trump declared, although he had seemed to enjoy more the red card he was given. It was the announcement of the World Cup Task Force by Trump in May that really underscored the relationship between the two men. In attendance were key figures from the Trump administration. With vice-president JD Vance on his right side and Infantino to his left, Trump was in a buoyant mood. He praised the Fifa president as 'one of the most powerful men in sport'. 'You can see Gianni is a very enthusiastic man and that's one of the reasons you [Infantino] have had so much success,' Trump said. 'He's like someone who just woke up on Christmas morning as a young child and saw those toys under the tree and that enthusiasm really plays well.' One can tell Infantino is cautious around Trump. He is aware that he must join in the 'Maga' badinage but also try to get across his official Fifa messaging and play to his own base – the 211 Fifa members. He is always at pains to remind the world of the existence of the 2026 co-hosts Mexico and Canada and nervously laughed off Trump's joke that he was right to mention them only in passing. Infantino reassured the US president that 78 of the 104 tournament games would be in the US. He repeated the claim that 2026 would be like '104 Super Bowls'. Across both tournaments there would be 10 million tickets sold. There would be $50 billion (£37 billion) in added economic output, Infantino said, and 300,000 US jobs created. Two million visitors, he said, would come. Although different figures have been quoted at different times. Flattery works in the court of Trump Behind the scenes, Fifa needs the Trump administration's guarantees on visas and taxes. Fifa does not pay local taxes and that is why its travelling four-yearly men's World Cup is so lucrative. For that to happen, Infantino needs to have a relationship with the man at the top and that is how he has learnt to do business with Trump, as he has done with Bin-Salman. A personal relationship, flattery, playing his role in the Trump court at all costs. Infantino might well just say with a shrug that this is the reality of doing business, but he will also be aware he is walking a fine line. As with all who stay in Trump's orbit, there is always uncertainty. Trump did not put in an appearance for the start of the tournament on Saturday in Miami as might once have been hoped by Infantino. The Juventus White House visit seems also to have been brokered by Trump's friend and the club's executive chairman, John Elkann, the American scion of the Agnelli dynasty. The 2026 World Cup is a logistical departure for Fifa. There is no local organising committee. Historically, the LOC was fundamental: made up of the country's leading football administrators, politicians and others who had strong relationships with central and regional government as well as all the other apparatus of state required to stage a major event. The LOC would use the planning and staging as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop football nationally. That was the case for the USSF in 1994, when the World Cup last came to the US. Not this time. Fifa has moved to offices in Miami and is doing the planning itself. The USSF, which bid for the event, has been largely sidelined. The task force announced last month will be headed by Andrew Giuliani, son of Trump's friend Rudy – but that is not the same. It would be no different from an English World Cup without the visible presence of the FA. At an event last week in New York to mark one year out from the start of 2026, all 11 host cities were present but not the USSF and, notably, not Fifa. Instead, the really big questions that remain about 2026 – on the financial arrangements and visas – as well as the federal budget that will be granted to host cities for issues such as security, would appear to be subject to negotiations behind the scenes.
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Baffled Juventus players hit out at 'weird' White House meeting with Donald Trump after US President launched tirade on trans athletes and Iran during bizarre Oval Office chat
Juventus players have spoken out after meeting US President Donald Trump ahead of their first Club World Cup match on Wednesday. The bizarre interaction occurred at the Oval Office - with FIFA president Gianni Infantino also present - and no explanation has been given as to why the gathering took place. The players were pictured standing behind Trump - who was presented with a Juventus shirt - before he launched into a tirade on transgender athletes and Iran amid their conflict with Israel. Juventus winger Timothy Weah has now broken his silence on Trump's rant, admitting he had no idea that was how the afternoon was going to play out. Following his team's 5-0 win over Al-Ain on Wednesday night, Weah told reporters: 'It was all a surprise to me, honestly - they told us that we have to go and I had no choice but to go. 'I was caught by surprise, honestly. It was a bit weird. When he started talking about the politics with Iran and everything, it's kind of like, I just want to play football man. Timothy Weah (pictured shaking Trump's hand) admitted it was 'weird' and that he had been caught by surprise when Trump went on his tirade 'I guess it was a cool experience, obviously, being in the White House… as the first time, it's always wonderful, but I'm not one for the politics, so it wasn't that exciting.' Weah is the son of former Ballon d'Or winner, George, who was also the President of Liberia between 2018 and 2024. According to the New York Times, the Trump administration could expand their travel bans to 36 additional countries, including Liberia, ahead of next year's World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada. Juventus and US midfielder Weston McKennie shook Trump's hand at one point during the meeting, with Trump telling him and Weah 'I hope you're going to be the best two players on the field'. But back in June 2020, McKennie told German outlet Bild: 'I don't think that Trump is the right one for the job as the president.' He added: 'In my eyes, you can call him racist.' Juventus may have thought they were only going to speak about their Club World Cup campaign with Trump to try and ramp up interest in the tournament, but it quickly became apparent that was not going to be the case. During one particularly awkward exchange, Trump asked the players: 'Could a woman make your team, fellas?' When general manager Damien Comolli pointed out that Juventus have a strong women's team after winning Serie A last season, Trump retorted: 'But they should be playing with women' in an apparent jibe at the transgender community. His attention quickly turned to Iran following escalating tensions in the Middle East. Addressing how the US planned to respond to the conflict, Trump said: 'Could the Iranian regime fall? Anything could happen.' Trump finally did speak about football as he declared that Juventus' match with Al-Ain later that evening was 'totally' sold out. Infantino assured Trump that this was true as he replied 'of course' when asked if the stadium was going to be full. The attendance given after the game was 18,161, almost 2,000 below the maximum stadium capacity of 20,000. Empty seats have become a theme of the tournament after only a little over 3,000 fans watched Ulsan HD play Mamelodi Sundowns in a 25,500-seater stadium in Orlando earlier this week.
