At the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., President Donald Trump received FIFA’s newly created peace prize, a move that blended global politics with one of sports’ most watched events. The presentation, led by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, added an unexpected layer to a ceremony usually focused solely on football. Trump, who has long pursued recognition for his foreign policy initiatives, accepted the honor with enthusiasm, calling it one of the greatest moments of his public life.
Infantino, who has formed a close working relationship with Trump in recent years, praised the president’s efforts to mediate conflicts and promote stability abroad. He handed Trump a medal, a certificate, and a gold trophy shaped as hands lifting a globe. A video montage accompanied the presentation, showing Trump in meetings with various world leaders tied to disputes he claims to have helped resolve.
The award arrives after Trump was again passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize, despite openly campaigning for it. FIFA announced its own peace prize only weeks later, saying it intended to recognize “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” Many within the organization, however, were taken by surprise, learning of the prize through media coverage rather than internal briefings. Human Rights Watch has since questioned the transparency of FIFA’s selection process, requesting details about nominees and judging criteria but receiving no answers.
Trump used his short speech to thank his family and to praise the leaders of Canada and Mexico, co-hosts of the 2026 tournament. He said coordination among the three nations has been “outstanding” and insisted that “the world is a safer place now.” He also repeated long-standing claims that his administration has resolved multiple conflicts and saved “millions of lives,” assertions that remain widely challenged by analysts and diplomats.
The presentation highlighted the deepening bond between Trump and Infantino, who has appeared with the president on many occasions. The FIFA chief visited the Oval Office several times, stood beside Trump at the signing of a ceasefire in Gaza, and attended a recent agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo facilitated by U.S. officials. Their friendship has drawn attention within global sport, particularly as Infantino continues to frame football as a force for unity.
Yet the timing of the prize has raised concerns. Trump’s administration is currently involved in diplomatic efforts surrounding the Ukraine war, even as it faces scrutiny over air strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean and a sweeping expansion of military deployments near Venezuela. Civil liberties groups also note Trump’s increasingly harsh rhetoric toward immigrants, including recent remarks about Somali communities that prompted widespread backlash.
Despite the controversies, the award conditions the lead-up to what will be the largest World Cup ever staged. With 48 teams and 104 matches across 16 cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, organizers expect record participation. Infantino, serving as host of the ceremony, called the tournament “spectacular” and said he views Trump as a partner in creating an atmosphere of global celebration.
Whether the prize will elevate FIFA’s image or invite further questioning remains to be seen, but it has already reshaped discussion around the 2026 World Cup—and the politics surrounding it.
Image is in the public domain and was created by The White House.
