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US President Donald Trump was presented with FIFA’s inaugural peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday—a symbolic honour for a leader who still aspires to secure the Nobel.
Gianni Infantino, the president of FIFA and a close ally of Trump, awarded the 79-year-old during the event held at the Kennedy Centre in Washington.
“Thank you very much. This is truly one of the great honours of my life. And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this, we saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump said.
Infantino said that Trump received the award for his “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to foster global peace and unity, and presented him with a gold trophy and a certificate.
FIFA introduced the annual prize in November, intending to honour individuals who inspire “hope for future generations.” However, the choice of Trump as the first recipient was not unexpected.
Infantino, 55, has established a close rapport with Trump, having visited the White House more than any other world leader since Trump’s return to office in January.
The US president frequently claims that he merits the Nobel Peace Prize for his contributions to resolving what he asserts are eight conflicts this year, including a tenuous ceasefire in Gaza, despite the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Infantino has visited locations as far away as Egypt and Malaysia to attend three ceremonies recognising Trump-brokered peace agreements in recent months.
Trump has positioned himself as the leader of a “board of peace” for war-stricken Gaza, and this week, his administration renamed a Washington peace institute in his honour.
However, he was passed over by the Norwegian Nobel Committee last month, which awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Meanwhile, the US leader has made the World Cup a focal point of his second presidential term, as well as the festivities for the 250th anniversary of US independence next year.
Nonetheless, FIFA’s decision represents a remarkable gesture for an organisation that prides itself on political impartiality.
There has been a lack of transparency regarding the prize; Human Rights Watch has written to FIFA seeking details about the nominees, judges, criteria, and selection procedure, but has yet to receive a reply.
This award comes at a time when Trump is facing backlash from Democrats and human rights organisations over various issues.
The self-styled “president of peace” has begun a major military build-up in Venezuela and has ordered airstrikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels.
Additionally, he has implemented a strict migration policy, threatening to relocate World Cup matches from cities where he has deployed troops and halting asylum decisions from 19 nations, including World Cup competitors Haiti and Iran.
