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donald trump A controversial new peace prize has been awarded by FIFA at the ceremony of the 2026 World Cup draw.
fifa president gianni infantino Award presented to Trump in kennedy center In Washington DC. Infantino said, “Mr. President, you can always count on my support and that of the entire football community…to help you establish peace throughout the world.”
FIFA’s award – officially called the “FIFA Peace Prize: Football Unites the World” – was suddenly announced in early November, three weeks after Trump was ignored. Nobel Peace Prize which he had publicly sought, but which was given to Venezuelan democracy campaigner María Corina Machado.
Infantino previously posted on his personal Instagram account after the Israel-Gaza ceasefire agreement that Trump deserved to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
“Thank you very much,” Trump said on stage before the drawing. “This is truly one of the great honors of my life.”
No explanation was given about the process behind the award, or the candidates nominated, or any selection criteria. Senior FIFA officials were surprised by the announcement of the award, which was not discussed with the FIFA Council.
Infantino explained that the award would honor “the enormous efforts of individuals who unite people, bringing hope to future generations”.
He added: “In an increasingly turbulent and divided world, it is fundamental to recognize the outstanding contributions of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace.”
Infantino has made no secret of his efforts to woo Trump in recent months, praising him and suggesting that World Cup success depends on a strong relationship with the US president.
Trump responded on stage, saying: “It’s a great honor to be with Gianni, I’ve known Gianni for a very long time. He’s done such an incredible job, and I have to tell you, you’ve set new records in ticket sales, and not to put it further, because we don’t want to bring that kind of thing up right now, but it’s a very nice tribute to you and to the game of football – or, as we call it, football.”
A letter from Human Rights Watch asked FIFA several questions about the award, including: “What formal criteria will FIFA use to evaluate nominees for the FIFA Peace Prize?”; and “Who will serve as the judge or decision-maker in selecting the recipient, and what are their qualifications?”
Human Rights Watch received no response.