Growing unease among senior Fifa officials over the decision to award the governing body's peace prize to Donald Trump has turned into 'deep embarrassment', according to internal sources. The US president received the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize at the World Cup draw in Washington DC in December, with Fifa president Gianni Infantino praising him as a leader of hope and unity.
Since the ceremony, the US has launched airstrikes in Venezuela, captured President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, and flown them to the US, where Maduro appeared in court on 5 January. Trump has also threatened to invade Greenland, claiming the US needs the territory 'very badly'. These actions have heightened discomfort within Fifa, which had already been criticised for not disclosing the selection process for the prize.
A senior Fifa source confirmed that multiple officials now express unease over the handling of the award. One highly placed official, speaking anonymously, admitted that staging the 2026 World Cup in the US will be a 'very delicate' and 'difficult' period, both in the run-up to the tournament and during the competition.
It is understood that Infantino has been left to manage the political fallout involving Trump, as other Fifa executives fear reputational damage. 'Involving myself in the politics surrounding this World Cup is something I stay far away from. My job concerns football on the pitch and nothing else,' a source said.
Fifa, however, has defended its decision, stating that it 'strongly supports its annual peace prize' and noting that the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize recipient gave her medal to Trump. A spokesperson added that Fifa has 'strong relations' with Trump and fellow co-hosts Canada and Mexico, resulting in the formation of the White House Task Force for the World Cup.
