FIFA President Gianni Infantino has announced the creation of a new FIFA Peace Prize, to be awarded annually to individuals who help unite people in peace. The inaugural prize will be presented on 5 December during the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, an event US President Donald Trump is expected to attend.
Infantino described the prize as part of football's moral responsibility to unite people in a divided world. 'In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it's fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,' he said. The formal title will be 'FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World'.
The timing has drawn attention given Trump's well-documented interest in the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has campaigned for and criticised after losing out. Days after the 2024 Nobel went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called for a joint nomination of Trump for next year's prize.
Infantino's announcement follows a series of peace-themed appearances with Trump, including a summit in Egypt and an investment forum in Riyadh. FIFA has also appointed Trump's daughter Ivanka to the board of a $100m education project partly funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, will feature a record 104 matches across 16 cities, with the draw set to be a high-profile event. Critics have questioned the blurring of sport and diplomacy, though Infantino insists football can carry a message of peace beyond politics.
