Donald Trump became the first recipient of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize on Friday, December 5, 2025, receiving the award from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC. The controversial presentation, which came as billions of football fans worldwide tuned in to watch the tournament draw, has ignited fierce debate about FIFA’s political neutrality and the governing body’s relationship with the United States president.
Gianni Infantino presented Donald Trump with a gold trophy depicting hands holding up the world, a commemorative medal, and a certificate recognizing what FIFA described as “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” The ceremony unfolded on a grand stage before an audience that included Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the leaders of the three nations co-hosting the 2026 World Cup.
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The Presentation and Trump’s Response
As Gianni Infantino handed over the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, he effusively praised Donald Trump’s leadership and diplomatic efforts. “This is what we want from a leader—a leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment. We want to unite, and that’s what we do here today, and that’s what we want to do at the World Cup,” Infantino declared before the assembled dignitaries and global television audience.
The FIFA president continued his glowing assessment: “Mr. President, you definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way, but you obtained it in an incredible way.” Infantino also expressed FIFA’s ongoing support, stating, “You can always count, Mr. President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community, or soccer community, to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world.”
Donald Trump, upon receiving the award, described it as “truly one of the great honors of my life.” He promptly placed the medal around his neck and praised the coordination between the three World Cup host nations as “outstanding.” The president thanked his family, including First Lady Melania Trump, and reiterated his claim about ending conflicts during his administration.
“Beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this, we saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump stated. Earlier, when asked by reporters about the prize, he had said: “I don’t need prizes. I just want to save lives. I saved millions and millions of lives, and that’s really what I want to do.”
The Hasty Creation of the Award
The FIFA Peace Prize announcement came surprisingly recently, with FIFA revealing the new annual award on November 5, 2025. The timing raised eyebrows throughout the football world, particularly given that it came less than a month after Donald Trump failed to receive the Nobel Peace Prize he had openly campaigned for. The Nobel committee instead awarded their 2025 peace prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
According to reports from The New York Times, the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize was so rushed that it blindsided senior FIFA officials, including members of the powerful FIFA Council composed of eight vice-presidents and 28 members at large. Some FIFA board members and vice presidents learned about the award’s existence through media press releases rather than through internal FIFA communications channels.
The hasty process has raised serious questions about FIFA governance and decision-making transparency. Human Rights Watch director of global initiatives Minky Worden revealed that her organization reached out to FIFA to understand the selection process for the peace prize winner. “We do not have an answer to that, which you could infer that there is no process, there are no other nominees, there was no judging,” she stated at a news conference.
FIFA provided no details about how winners would be selected, who serves on any selection committee, or what criteria determine who receives the award. The lack of transparency surrounding the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize has fueled criticism that the award represents little more than political theater designed to curry favor with Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America.
The Trump-Infantino Relationship
The close relationship between Donald Trump and Gianni Infantino has been well-documented throughout 2025. According to Politico, the FIFA president has spent more public face-to-face time with Trump during his second term than any world leader, underscoring the depth of their alliance as preparations advance for the 2026 World Cup.
Infantino has been a regular guest at the White House throughout 2025, attending numerous events and meetings with the president. Most notably, the FIFA president was present at the Sharm El-Sheikh peace summit in Egypt where Israel and Hamas signed a ceasefire agreement. Infantino was the only sports official invited to attend the historic diplomatic event, despite having no political role in the negotiations.
Gianni Infantino’s public support for Donald Trump extended beyond mere attendance at events. In early October 2025, as ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas progressed, Infantino took to Instagram to campaign directly for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. “President Donald J. Trump definitely deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive actions,” Infantino posted, making FIFA’s position on Trump’s diplomatic efforts explicitly clear.
The relationship has also extended to Trump’s family, with FIFA recently appointing Ivanka Trump to the board of a $100 million education project partially funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales. This appointment further cemented the organizational ties between FIFA and the Trump administration.
Controversy and Criticism
The decision to award Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize has generated significant controversy from human rights organizations, political commentators, and football observers worldwide. Critics have pointed out the stark contradictions between the award’s stated purpose and recent events surrounding Trump’s administration.
The timing proved particularly problematic, as the FIFA Peace Prize presentation came less than 24 hours after the Trump administration carried out another deadly airstrike on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean. The juxtaposition between receiving a peace award and conducting military strikes struck many observers as deeply ironic.
Craig Mokhiber, a former United Nations official who has campaigned for Israel’s suspension from world football over its conduct in Gaza, called the award “truly shameful.” Mokhiber told Al Jazeera: “Not satisfied with two years of FIFA complicity in genocide in Palestine, Infantino and his cronies have now invented a new ‘peace prize’ in order to curry favour with Donald Trump.”
Mokhiber added that the award appeared designed to “obscure” Trump’s record of support for Israel’s military actions, his administration’s strikes in the Caribbean, and what Mokhiber characterized as “gross violations of human rights” inside the United States, particularly regarding immigration enforcement.
Questions About FIFA’s Political Neutrality
The FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump has intensified longstanding concerns about FIFA’s commitment to political neutrality. The governing body has traditionally maintained strict policies prohibiting players from displaying political messages, with athletes regularly facing fines and bans for violating these regulations.
The contrast between FIFA’s enforcement of political neutrality rules against players and Gianni Infantino’s embrace of Trump has not gone unnoticed. FairSquare, an advocacy group focused on sports governance, told CNN that the introduction of the prize “is just the latest example of serious misgovernance at FIFA and further proof that the organisation urgently needs to be reformed.“
FairSquare director Nick McGeehan elaborated: “Gianni Infantino’s decision to hitch FIFA to Trump’s MAGA project might make short term commercial sense for FIFA but it is obviously very harmful to the integrity and reputation of the game.”
The controversy extends beyond the award itself to the venue selection for the World Cup draw. The Kennedy Center, traditionally known as an apolitical venue for the arts, is now run by Trump loyalists. Democrats questioned this arrangement, raising concerns about FIFA’s increasing political proximity to the White House.
Trump’s Disputed Claims
During his acceptance speech, Donald Trump referenced his administration’s diplomatic achievements, claiming to have “settled eight wars” in his ten months back in office. These claims remain widely disputed by international relations experts and the governments of countries involved in the conflicts Trump referenced.
One specific example Trump mentioned was the conflict between India and Pakistan. However, officials from both nations have disputed Trump’s characterization of his role in de-escalating tensions between the nuclear-armed rivals. Similarly, while Trump has claimed credit for ending the war in Gaza, significant violence and instability continue in the region despite the ceasefire agreement signed in Egypt.
The video presentation that preceded the FIFA Peace Prize ceremony celebrated Donald Trump for “resolving the war in Gaza” and attempting to end Russia’s war in Ukraine. However, critics note that much work remains before most of these conflicts can be considered genuinely resolved. Israel’s frequent violations of the Gaza ceasefire have called into question whether the agreement represents a sustainable peace or merely a temporary pause in hostilities.
Historical Context: FIFA and Corruption
The irony of FIFA presenting a peace prize has not been lost on observers familiar with the organization’s troubled recent history. Just over a decade ago, the United States Department of Justice shocked the sports world with a sweeping corruption case against FIFA that ultimately led to the downfall of Gianni Infantino’s predecessor, Sepp Blatter.
The 2015 FIFA corruption scandal saw numerous high-ranking officials arrested on charges including racketeering, wire fraud, and money laundering. The investigation revealed decades of systemic corruption within FIFA, including vote-buying for World Cup host selections and kickback schemes involving broadcasting rights.
Gianni Infantino assumed the FIFA presidency in 2016, positioning himself as a reform candidate who would restore integrity to the scandal-plagued organization. However, critics argue that the FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump demonstrates that fundamental governance problems persist within FIFA, with the president wielding unchecked power to make unilateral decisions that serve political rather than sporting interests.
FAQs
Why did FIFA give Donald Trump a Peace Prize?
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that Donald Trump deserved the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize for his “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace,” specifically citing his role in brokering ceasefires in Gaza and between Congo DR and Rwanda. However, critics note the award came shortly after Trump failed to win the Nobel Peace Prize he had campaigned for.
When did FIFA announce the Peace Prize?
FIFA announced the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize on November 5, 2025, less than a month before presenting the inaugural award to Donald Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw on December 5, 2025. The rushed timeline surprised even senior FIFA officials who learned about it through media reports.
What is the relationship between Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump?
Gianni Infantino and Donald Trump have developed a close relationship, with the FIFA president spending more public face-to-face time with Trump than any world leader during his second term. Infantino has been a regular White House guest, campaigned for Trump to win the Nobel Peace Prize, and appointed Ivanka Trump to a FIFA education project board.
Why is the FIFA Peace Prize controversial?
The FIFA Peace Prize has sparked controversy due to the lack of transparency in the selection process, questions about FIFA’s political neutrality, and the timing following Trump’s failed Nobel Prize bid. Human rights groups have criticized the award given Trump’s disputed claims about ending wars and concerns about his administration’s policies.
Has FIFA given awards to political figures before?
The FIFA Peace Prize represents a significant departure from FIFA’s traditional focus on sport. While FIFA has historically maintained strict political neutrality and penalized players for political messages, the organization has never before created an award specifically for political leaders until Infantino established this prize.
