United States President Donald Trump reacts after the results of the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC, on Friday. The United States, Canada and Mexico are set to host the World Cup. Photo: AFP
December 6, 2025
WASHINGTON, DC, United States (AFP) — Spurred on by World Cup 2026 fever, US President Donald Trump said Friday that American football should be renamed as the game played with a round ball, soccer, was the one true football.
“We have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called football, but when you think about it…this is football, there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the NFL (National Football League),” Trump said at the World Cup draw.
“It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it.”
For Americans, the word “football” refers to American football, a sport primarily played with the hands — completely different from what the rest of the world calls football.
Almost the entire country tunes in each year to the NFL championship final, the Super Bowl, and FIFA President Gianni Infantino made sure on Friday to emphasise to Americans that the 2026 World Cup would be the equivalent of 104 Super Bowls.
An all-round sports enthusiast, Trump has developed a particular affection for soccer that continues to grow as the 2026 World Cup, which will take place next summer in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, approaches.
