In a statement that sparked wide reactions, the American President Donald Trump jokingly revealed the possibility of issuing a presidential order requiring Americans to use the term "football" instead of "soccer", similar to what is practiced in most countries around the world.
This came during an interview with the "Dazon" network, after attending the Club World Cup final held at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, where English club Chelsea won the championship after defeating Paris Saint-Germain 3-0.
Trump, who attracted attention during the award ceremony, described the match result as "somewhat of a surprise", and confirmed that he attended the game at the invitation of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, whom he described as an "old friend".
Trump expressed his happiness with the growth of soccer in the United States, pointing out that sports have a unique ability to unite people, and that soccer specifically, as the most popular sport globally, can bring together conflicting nations at the same table.
In a notable moment during the award ceremony, cameras captured a side conversation between Chelsea players about Trump, prompting some viewers to resort to lip-reading to uncover what was said at that moment.
Trump's humorous remarks reignited the old debate about the American naming of the game, especially with its increasing popularity within the country.