Donald Trump has triggered a sports debate after a resurfaced clip showed him suggesting the NFL change its name.
The comments, which were made during an appearance alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino, have gained fresh attention following the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking about soccer’s growing popularity across the US, Donald Trump argued that the sport has a stronger claim to the name “football” than the NFL.
“When you look what has happened to football in the United States, again soccer in the United States, we seem to never call it that, because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that’s called football,” Trump said, according to VT.
He went on: “But when you think about it, shouldn’t it really called, this is football, there’s no question, we have to come up with another name for the NFL. It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it, it is really football.”
Donald Trump wants NFL to be renamed
Gianni Infantino appeared to welcome the suggestion, reacting positively while standing next to Trump on stage. The clip has resurfaced as global attention turns to the World Cup. Trump’s remarks quickly divided opinion online.
Some viewers surprisingly found themselves agreeing with the former president’s argument.
“First time all year I heard this guy say something coherent, thought of, and made a little bit of sense,” one person wrote, according to VT.
Another commented: “I never thought I’d live to see the day I’d agree with this man… he’s actually right for once.”
Others, however, strongly disagreed.
“That’s about as un-American as it gets,” one critic responded.
Another joked: “I will call it Trump Ball, it will be terrific, it will be the best football since football.”
With the World Cup underway, the debate over the name “football” continues.
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