Former United States President Donald Trump has been presented with the first-ever FIFA peace prize during a ceremony in Washington DC. The controversial award was handed over by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the draw for the 2026 World Cup, held at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
A Surprise Honour at the World Cup Draw
The newly created FIFA accolade is intended for individuals deemed to have united people through peace via "unwavering commitment and special actions." On Friday, 6 December, Infantino took to the stage to bestow the honour, describing Trump as a selection "in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world."
"This is your prize, this is your peace prize," Infantino told Trump, presenting him with a trophy, medal, and certificate. The FIFA chief added, "There is also a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go."
Accepting the award, Donald Trump called it "one of the great honours of my life". He proceeded to make sweeping claims about his record in office, stating he had "saved millions and millions of lives" and citing conflicts in the Congo, and between India and Pakistan, as examples of wars he had ended. "The world is a safer place now," Trump concluded.
Scrutiny Over Claims and FIFA's Selection Process
The decision to honour Trump has immediately drawn intense scrutiny and criticism. The former president has long expressed a desire for the Nobel Peace Prize and has repeatedly made questionable assertions about his role in ending global conflicts.
Analysts have challenged several of Trump's specific claims. For instance, he stated he ended the war in Gaza, yet low-level conflict and Israeli strikes continue in the region. His assertion of halting a war between Israel and Iran refers to a 12-day conflict where the US actively participated on Israel's side. Furthermore, India has denied that Trump's involvement was meaningful in de-escalating tensions with Pakistan in May.
FIFA has not disclosed the details of the selection process for this new award. However, a Guardian investigation found that a future selection committee will be chaired by controversial Myanmar tycoon Zaw Zaw. The move is likely to intensify questions about FIFA's political alignments under Infantino.
Deepening Ties Between FIFA and Trump's Orbit
The award ceremony highlights the increasingly visible relationship between the FIFA president and Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. The pair were seen together at a summit in Egypt in October.
FIFA has also strengthened institutional links with Trump's inner circle. Earlier this year, Trump's daughter Ivanka was appointed to the board of a $100m education initiative partly funded by 2026 World Cup ticket revenues.
The tournament itself, which begins on 11 June 2026 and will feature a record 104 matches across 16 host cities, is being promoted by FIFA as an opportunity to "unite the world." Meanwhile, senior Republicans have vowed to marshal a global nomination for Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize next year, following this year's award to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
As Trump accepted the inaugural FIFA peace prize, the dissonance between the honour and his contested legacy as a peacemaker was stark, ensuring the award will be debated far beyond the walls of the Kennedy Center.
