Former U.S. President Donald Trump sparked controversy in the international sports world after suggesting that American football should stop being called “football,” arguing that the term truly belongs to the sport played with the feet, known worldwide as football and in the United States as soccer.

The comments were made during an event related to the organization of the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. In that setting, Trump stated that “real football is played with the feet” and that the NFL “should find another name.”

A League with More Than 100 Years of History

The National Football League (NFL) was founded in 1920 under the name American Professional Football Association (APFA) and officially became the NFL in 1922. For more than a century, the league has grown into the most powerful sports organization in the United States and one of the most influential in the world.

The Super Bowl, its main event, is watched each year by hundreds of millions of people worldwide, and NFL teams are worth billions of dollars. For this reason, the idea of changing the league’s name seems unthinkable to many fans and industry leaders.

A Cultural and Language Debate

In most countries, the word “football” refers only to the sport played with a round ball. In the United States, however, the word “soccer” is used to avoid confusion with American football. Trump’s comments have renewed this long-standing cultural and language debate at a time when soccer is growing rapidly in the U.S.

With the 2026 World Cup approaching, soccer has gained more visibility across the country, creating new discussions about sports identity and the place of soccer alongside traditional American sports such as football, baseball, and basketball.

Mixed Reactions in the Sports World

After Trump’s statement, reactions quickly appeared on social media. Some users supported his opinion, saying that the word “football” should match global usage. Others strongly defended American football and the identity of the NFL.

Sports analysts agree that, beyond the media attention, such a change is not realistic. Renaming the league would affect contracts, broadcasting rights, sponsors, brand identity, and worldwide recognition built over more than 100 years.

A Symbolic Message Ahead of the 2026 World Cup

Most experts believe that Trump’s words were more of a media provocation than a formal proposal. Still, his comment adds to the global conversation about the rapid growth of soccer in the United States.

With the World Cup just over a year away, the debate over which sport deserves the name “football” is likely to continue both on and off the field.