Trump proposes renaming American football to give soccer proper name

President Donald Trump has proposed that American football should be renamed, allowing soccer, which is known as football in most of the world, to claim the term exclusively.

He made these comments during the World Cup draw held in Washington, D.C., as he discussed the growing popularity of soccer in the United States.

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“When you look at the evolution of football in the United States, or soccer as we often call it, it seems we avoid using that term due to some confusion with another sport called football. Honestly, it should just be called football—there’s no doubt about it. We really need to find a different name for NFL,” Trump stated. “When you think about it, it doesn’t add up.”

At the event, Trump also received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, presented to him by FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The award included a trophy depicting golden hands holding a soccer ball and a medal that Trump promptly put on.

The certificate for the prize noted that it is awarded annually to individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting peace and unity globally through their leadership and actions.

In March, Trump issued an executive order to form a task force for the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.

He leads this task force, with Vice President JD Vance serving as vice chair and Andrew Giuliani as executive director. Out of the 16 host cities, 11 are located in the United States.

Despite previous concerns about unsafe cities losing their hosting privileges, Trump expressed confidence in their security on Friday and offered federal support if necessary.

The tournament will take place across North America starting in June 2026, with the final match scheduled for July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.