Former US President Donald Trump has accepted a newly created and contentious FIFA Peace Prize during a high-profile ceremony in Washington DC.
The Ceremony and the Controversial Award
The presentation took place on Friday 5 December 2025 at the Kennedy Center, during the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally handed the "FIFA Peace Prize: Football Unites the World" to Mr Trump.
The moment was captured by photographers as the two men shook hands, cementing an event that has immediately drawn significant scrutiny and criticism from human rights observers and governance experts.
Questions Over Timing and Transparency
The award's inception and selection process have been shrouded in opacity. FIFA announced the creation of the prize hastily in early November 2025. This timing came shortly after Mr Trump was overlooked for the Nobel Peace Prize, which was instead awarded to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.
Key concerns raised include:
- No public criteria for the award were established.
- No other candidates were named or considered publicly.
- The decision was reportedly not discussed with the broader FIFA Council, bypassing normal governance channels.
Human Rights Watch formally raised questions about the prize's legitimacy and the flawed process behind it. According to reports, FIFA did not provide a substantive response to their inquiries.
Reactions and Lasting Implications
While President Trump described the accolade as a "great honour", the controversy threatens to cast a shadow over the build-up to the 2026 World Cup. Critics argue that linking the global football tournament's draw ceremony to a politically charged award undermines the sport's governing body's credibility.
The episode highlights ongoing debates about the intersection of sports, politics, and diplomacy. It also raises serious questions about FIFA's internal decision-making processes and its commitment to transparent and accountable governance, principles it has pledged to uphold following past scandals.
The focus now will be on whether FIFA provides a clearer rationale for the award and how this incident influences perceptions of the organisation as it prepares to host the world's largest sporting event in North America.
