Trump marks one-year anniversary of assassination attempt at the FIFA Club World Cup final

Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted with cheers before the President joined the players on field after the stunning final result.

President Donald Trump on Sunday marked the one-year anniversary of a failed attempt on his life, joining family, friends and close advisers to witness Chelsea’s dominating FIFA Club World Cup final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

The President joined the players on the field after the match to congratulate the tournament's outstanding performers, present PSG players with their runners-up medals and hand Chelsea its championship trophy.

Mr Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were greeted with cheers as they arrived at MetLife Stadium just ahead of the pre-match performance by musical artists Robbie Williams and Laura Pausini. And the President received a smattering of boos when he was briefly shown on the stadium's mega-screen.

Mr Trump waved to the crowd and pumped his fist as he and his entourage arrived at the stadium luxury box, where they took in the match with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and his wife, Leena Al Ashqar.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump. Picture: Kevin Lamarque/Pool Photo via AP

Other guests spotted in the President's suite included US Attorney-General Pam Bondi, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, NFL great Tom Brady and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

MetLife in a little over a year will host the 2026 World Cup final. English Premier League team Chelsea spoiled PSG’s bid to win its fourth major title of the season, exactly 100 days after PSG clinched Ligue 1 on April 5. The Paris team added the Coupe de France by beating Reims 3-0 on May 24, then romped over Inter Milan seven days later in the Champions League Final.

Donald Trump, who has a warm relationship with Gianni Infantino, has said he plans to attend multiple matches of the World Cup tournament next year that will be held at stadiums in the US, Canada and Mexico. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

Chelsea dominated throughout, racing out to a 3-0 lead in the first half behind a pair of goals from Cole Palmer and one from João Pedro.

Sunday’s match fell on the first anniversary of the assassination attempt Mr Trump survived in Butler, Pennsylvania, while campaigning for the presidency.

In an interview with daughter-in-law Lara Trump, a Fox News show host, which aired on Saturday, Mr Trump briefly touched on the anniversary but was otherwise muted.

The US Secret Service announced last week that six staffers had been disciplined with suspensions ranging from 10 to 42 days without pay over the incident.

The President waved to the crowd and pumped his fist as he and his entourage arrived at the stadium luxury box. Picture: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/AFP

“I have great confidence in these people,” Mr Trump said. “I know the people and they’re very talented, very capable.”

The FIFA Club World Cup final also offered an opportunity for Mr Trump and aides to huddle with Qatari government officials.

Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, in a brief exchange with reporters ahead of the match, said he remained “hopeful” about Gaza ceasefire and hostage negotiations.

Mr Witkoff, who joined Mr Trump for the tournament finale, appeared to nod affirmatively when asked by reporters if he planned on meeting with senior officials from the Gulf nation of Qatar, which is serving as an intermediary with Hamas in the talks.

“I’ll be meeting them,” Mr Witkoff said.

The President, who has a warm relationship with Mr Infantino, has said he plans to attend multiple matches of the World Cup tournament next year that will be held at stadiums in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Preparations for next year’s big soccer moment for North America are well under way. But it comes amid heightened tensions between the US and its neighbours over proposed tariffs, immigration and Mr Trump repeatedly saying that Canada should become America’s 51st state.

Mr Trump earlier this year said the tensions will only make the tournament more “exciting”.

“Tension’s a good thing,” he said.

Sporting events have made up the bulk of the President’s trips in the US since taking office in January. In addition to his visit this weekend to the soccer tournament, he has attended the Super Bowl in New Orleans, the Daytona 500 in Florida, UFC fights in Miami and Newark, New Jersey, and the NCAA wrestling championships in Philadelphia.