In a move that has raised eyebrows across the sports and political worlds, FIFA awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the draw ceremony for the 2026 World Cup on Friday.
A Surprise Award at the Kennedy Center
The presentation took place at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where FIFA President Gianni Infantino bestowed the gold medal and large trophy upon Trump. Infantino offered lavish praise, stating the award was "in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world."
A video played before Trump took the stage described him as a dynamic leader whose diplomatic efforts fostered dialogue and stability, while also championing soccer's unifying power. In a brief acceptance speech, Trump called it "one of the great honors" of his life before shifting focus to touting ticket sales for the upcoming tournament, claiming "The numbers are beyond any numbers."
Context and Controversy Surrounding the Prize
The FIFA award follows Trump losing out on the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year, which was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Trump has claimed that Machado called him to say she accepted the prize in his honor because he was the one who "really deserved it."
The close alliance between Infantino and Trump was further highlighted. The FIFA president previously allowed Trump to keep the original 24-karat-gold-plated Club World Cup trophy in July, forcing the organization to give a replica to the actual winning team.
Timing Coincides with Political Furor
The peace prize presentation comes amid rising controversy over actions scrutinized as potential war crimes carried out by Trump's administration during a September attack on alleged drug smugglers. Furthermore, Trump recently pardoned a former Honduran president who had been sentenced to decades in prison for trafficking hundreds of tons of cocaine into the United States.
When questioned by reporters about the impending FIFA award earlier on Friday, Trump repeated a version of his misleading claim, stating he had settled "eight wars." The juxtaposition of a peace award with these ongoing controversies has sparked significant discussion and critique.
