Former United States President Donald Trump has shared his memories of watching the late Brazilian football icon Pele during a recent event tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw.
Trump's Personal Tribute to a Football Legend
Speaking on Friday, 5 December 2025, Trump opened up about witnessing Pele's time in North American football. The legendary striker, a three-time World Cup champion widely considered one of the sport's greatest ever players, featured for the New York Cosmos from 1975 to 1977.
"That man can play," Trump stated, reflecting on Pele's talent. He added a personal note, saying, "I was pretty young at that point."
Remarks on Football's Growth in America
The former president's comments extended beyond nostalgia. He remarked on the significant growth of football—or soccer, as it is commonly called in the US—within the country.
In a notable aside, Trump suggested that the United States may have to consider another name for the NFL, the nation's premier American football league. His point highlighted that the sport known globally as football should perhaps adopt that name in America too, aligning with the vast majority of other nations.
Praise for FIFA and World Cup Preparations
Trump later turned his attention to the upcoming global tournament. He went on to commend FIFA, football's world governing body, for its progress in organising the next World Cup.
Specifically, he praised the organisation for its strong ticket sales ahead of the World Cup next summer in 2026. The event, to be hosted across the USA, Canada, and Mexico, is one of the most anticipated in the sporting calendar.
The occasion also saw Trump receive a newly-created peace prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino, underscoring the political and diplomatic dimensions often intertwined with major sporting events.
