Juventus at the Oval Office
In a noteworthy event ahead of their clash at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, a group of Juventus players and officials visited the Oval Office. The meeting took place on Wednesday, just hours before the Italian team’s first match against Al Ain, set to unfold at Audi Field in Washington D.C.
Meetings with Celebrity Attendees
Among the distinguished Juventus attendees were U.S. national team members Weston McKennie and Timothy Weah, alongside club owner John Elkann. The delegation also included head coach Igor Tudor, several Italian national team players such as Manuel Locatelli and Federico Gatti, Dutch midfielder Teun Koopmeiners, Serbian striker Dusan Vlahovic, and Italian football legend Giorgio Chiellini, who currently serves as Juventus’ director of football strategy.
They were joined by CEO Maurizio Scanavino and general manager Damien Comolli, as well as FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Discussion Topics
During their visit, the Juventus group presented President Trump with a No. 47 jersey. While standing off to the side, they listened as Trump addressed issues such as the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. In an unexpected turn, Trump also broached the topic of transgender women’s involvement in sports, prompting a response from Comolli regarding the club’s women’s team. Comolli affirmed the strength of Juventus’ women’s squad when asked if they believed a woman could compete on the men’s team.
Tradition of Welcoming Champions
This visit continues a tradition in which championship-winning sports teams are invited to the White House, a practice upheld by past presidents. Previously, other notable teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Eagles have also held such meetings during Trump’s presidency.
Relationships and Political Context
Notably, the relationship between Trump and FIFA president Infantino has been marked by cooperation; they previously collaborated on a task force related to the upcoming 2026 World Cup. However, it’s important to mention that McKennie had been openly critical of Trump during his first term, expressing his disapproval in an interview during the Black Lives Matter protests following George Floyd’s death, stating he believed Trump was “ignorant” and unfit for the presidency.
As Juventus gears up for the Club World Cup, this distinctive meeting certainly adds a layer of political and sporting narrative to their campaign.
