In a surprising twist that blends politics with international sports, it has come to light that former U.S. President Donald Trump kept the original, solid gold FIFA Club World Cup trophy during his time in office—leaving FIFA with no choice but to issue a replica to the actual tournament winners.
According to a recently released report from congressional investigators, the trophy, which was meant to be a temporary display piece during an official White House event in 2020, was never returned. Instead, the original gold trophy remained in Trump’s possession, sparking questions about diplomatic protocols and the proper handling of international memorabilia.
A Trophy That Wasn’t Meant to Stay
The FIFA Club World Cup trophy in question is not just a ceremonial trinket—it is made of real gold and represents the pinnacle of achievement in global club football. Normally, such items are displayed briefly during official functions and are then returned to FIFA. However, in this case, the trophy mysteriously vanished from the U.S. inventory list, and investigators now believe Trump simply kept it.
Though it might sound like a minor mishap, this incident reflects broader concerns about how official gifts and international symbols were treated during Trump’s presidency. Federal rules stipulate that foreign gifts of high value must either be formally accepted on behalf of the United States or returned. That process seems to have been bypassed entirely in this case.
The Winners Got a Replica
With the original trophy unaccounted for, FIFA found itself in a peculiar situation. When Bayern Munich won the Club World Cup later that year, the organization presented them with a replica instead of the original golden prize. While the replica was visually identical, it lacked the actual material value and symbolic weight of the authentic trophy.
The German club reportedly wasn’t informed at the time that their trophy wasn’t the real one. The truth only surfaced after investigators started digging into a wider review of unreturned foreign gifts from the Trump White House, which included items from leaders around the world.
More Than Just a Trophy
While some may laugh off the idea of a politician keeping a sports trophy, experts argue that this situation goes far beyond sports memorabilia. It touches on important issues of ethics, diplomatic relations, and government transparency. When a head of state keeps official items without documentation, it raises red flags—not just about souvenir hoarding, but about respect for international partnerships.
Moreover, FIFA has yet to publicly comment on the matter. The White House and Trump’s legal team have also remained silent about the trophy’s current whereabouts.
A Pattern of Missing Gifts
This isn’t an isolated incident. The investigation has revealed that dozens of foreign gifts—including luxury items from Saudi Arabia, Japan, and other nations—either went missing or were never properly recorded. The missing items range from gold-plated golf clubs to custom artwork, raising concerns about potential violations of federal law.
It’s unclear whether the former president will face any legal consequences for keeping the FIFA trophy or any of the other missing items. However, the incident adds another layer to the complex legacy of Trump’s presidency—one that now includes a golden soccer trophy that was never his to keep.