US Vice President JD Vance: Family trip to Borussia Dortmund game

Hardly anyone expected this high-profile visit: US Vice President James David "JD" Vance (40) sat with his family in the stands of the TQL Stadium in Cincinnati on Wednesday, watching Borussia Dortmund's Club World Cup match against Ulsan HD of South Korea (final score 1-0 for BVB). For the 40-year-old, it was practically a home game—after all, he was born just 30 kilometers away in Middletown.

Ohio is familiar territory for Vance. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 2023 to 2025 before becoming vice president. Just on Tuesday, he attended an Ohio Republican Party dinner in the small town of Lima. The following day, he stopped by the Club World Cup. He was accompanied by his wife, Usah Vance (39), their three children, and the well-known corporate lawyer Robert W. McDonald.

Security like a state visit

Visitors noticed upon arrival that something was different from the first two BVB matches of the tournament. The surrounding streets, where residents had rented out their parking spaces to fans during the previous game, were cordoned off with metal barriers. Sniffer dogs sniffed bags, security officers checked every electronic device, and Secret Service agents conducted body searches.

Particularly impressive: snipers were positioned on a roof long before kickoff to protect the guests of honor. According to media reports, security personnel prevented curious spectators from taking video footage of the prominent guests. FIFA President Gianni Infantino (55) was also in attendance – although not directly next to Vance, but in the stands next to BVB Sports Director Lars Ricken (48).

Incidentally, the Dortmund match was the last match of the Club World Cup in Cincinnati—a total of four preliminary round matches were played in the city. Despite the celebrity guests, attendance remained modest. Around 10,000 spectators were counted in the 26,000-seat TQL Stadium.

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