In a surprise announcement on December 5, 2025, Donald Trump was named the first recipient of FIFA’s newly created Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. FIFA had unveiled the honor the previous month as a way to recognize “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and helped bring people together globally.
At the draw, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with a gold‑plated trophy — a globe supported by raised hands — together with a medal and a certificate citing his efforts to promote peace and unity. Trump called the award one of the great honors of his life and said he and Infantino had saved millions of lives. The ceremony followed soon after Trump was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The decision provoked immediate controversy. Critics questioned why football’s governing body was launching and awarding a political peace prize and argued the move strays from FIFA’s core sporting mission. Observers also flagged a lack of transparency around the selection: FIFA has not published the award’s criteria, the identities of any judges, or details of the nomination process. That opacity prompted accusations that the prize was symbolic or politically driven rather than merit‑based. Some commentators suggested the timing, after the Nobel went to another candidate, seemed aimed at giving Trump an alternative honor he had publicly sought, and detractors dismissed the prize as a “participation award.”
Beyond the personalities involved, the episode highlights a broader trend of sports institutions engaging in diplomacy and politics. Supporters say leveraging soccer’s global reach to promote unity is a positive use of sport; critics warn that blurring sport and geopolitics risks politicizing both.
Whether celebrated or condemned, FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize and its award to Trump have intensified discussion about what a peace prize should honor and who is qualified to bestow it.
