US President Donald Trump became the inaugural honoree of FIFA’s newly created peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, a symbolic consolation for a leader whose aspiration to secure the Nobel Peace Prize has never materialized.
Gianni Infantino, head of world football’s governing body and a long-standing ally of Trump, presented the 79-year-old president with the award during the event held at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
“Thank you very much. This is truly one of the great honors of my life. And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this, we saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump said.
According to Infantino, Trump earned the award for “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts aimed at advancing global peace and unity.
FIFA introduced the annual award in November, stating it would honor individuals who inspire “hope for future generations.”
Its first choice, however, surprised few observers.
Infantino, 55, has built an unusually close relationship with Trump, visiting the White House more frequently than any other world leader since Trump returned to office in January.
Trump regularly argues that he should have already received the Nobel Peace Prize for what he describes as helping end eight conflicts this year, among them a delicate ceasefire in Gaza.
His pursuit of the Nobel was frustrated once again last month when the Norwegian Nobel Committee instead awarded the peace prize to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.
Trump has positioned himself as the leader of a “board of peace” for war-ravaged Gaza — a deal Infantino also witnessed during its signing in Egypt — while his administration recently renamed a Washington peace institute in his honor.
The World Cup has become central to Trump’s second term agenda, further reinforcing his connection to global sporting diplomacy.
Even so, FIFA’s decision was extraordinary for an organization that publicly maintains its political neutrality.
Questions have emerged over the transparency surrounding the award. Human Rights Watch disclosed that it wrote to FIFA requesting details about the nominees, the judging panel, the criteria, and the overall selection process — but said it has not received a reply.
The timing of the honor also comes as Trump faces mounting criticism from Democrats and human rights advocates on numerous fronts.
The self-declared “president of peace” has overseen a significant US military expansion around Venezuela and approved lethal airstrikes on boats alleged to be involved in drug trafficking.
He has also imposed hardline migration actions, including warnings that World Cup matches could be relocated from cities where he deployed troops, and the suspension of asylum rulings linked to 19 countries — among them Haiti and Iran, both World Cup qualifiers.
In addition, Trump has intensified pressure on political adversaries, opposing viewpoints, and individuals challenging his repeated false claim that he won the 2020 election.
The Kennedy Center, which served as the venue for the World Cup draw, is the same cultural institution where Trump appointed himself chairman earlier this year as part of what he described as his campaign against “woke” culture.
What you should know
This story centers on FIFA awarding its first-ever peace prize to US President Donald Trump, a move widely regarded as politically charged given Trump’s long desire for global recognition through awards like the Nobel Peace Prize.
The honor arrives amid significant controversy, including Trump’s foreign policy decisions, his aggressive immigration posture, and his ongoing disputes with critics and political opponents.
FIFA’s lack of transparency about the award and Infantino’s close personal ties to Trump further intensify public scrutiny. The article explores how this gesture aligns with Trump’s broader efforts to shape his legacy on the world stage.
