The image of Donald Trump grinning while Chelsea celebrated their Club World Cup victory in New York was an enduring one. It certainly wasn’t what anyone, not least club captain Reece James, expected to see next to him as he lifted the trophy.

“I thought he was going to exit the stage but he wanted to stay,” James said afterwards. James wasn’t overly bothered. He had his medal. And Trump had his trophy.

But if Trump tries to pull the same stunt in a year’s time with the 2026 World Cup winning captain, he cannot be assured of such a jovial reception.

A global stage for Trump to sportswash

Before the next election, Trump’s America will host the two biggest sport events in the world, the World Cup in 2026 and the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 and those will not be the first time Trump

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