United States President Donald Trump was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize — a brand-new distinction created by football’s global governing body — only weeks after he was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The award, meant to honour individuals who have made “extraordinary contributions to peace” and helped “bring people together worldwide,” was given to Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, just before the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The timing of the announcement followed Trump’s public disappointment at not receiving the Nobel Prize, a recognition he argued he merited for his efforts to resolve international disputes. Instead, he accepted FIFA’s peace-themed accolade, which came with a trophy, medal, and certificate.
Infantino’s move to establish the award — and name Trump as its first honouree — sparked debate within the global football community. The FIFA chief has maintained a notably close rapport with Trump, appearing alongside him at several events this year. Infantino also attended Trump’s 2017 inauguration and has made repeated trips to Washington during the president’s tenure.
The event doubled as a kickoff moment for the 2026 World Cup, to be held across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The expanded 48-team tournament is set to begin on June 11, 2026, with the final scheduled for July 19 in the U.S. It is projected to be the most widely attended World Cup ever.
While the Nobel Committee withheld its recognition, Trump now has a football-backed peace honour to showcase — courtesy of FIFA.
Trump Receives FIFA’s First-Ever Peace Award Ahead of 2026 World Cup Draw
United States President Donald Trump was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize — a brand-new distinction created by football’s global governing body — only weeks after he was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize.
The award, meant to honour individuals who have made “extraordinary contributions to peace” and helped “bring people together worldwide,” was given to Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during a ceremony at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, just before the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The timing of the announcement followed Trump’s public disappointment at not receiving the Nobel Prize, a recognition he argued he merited for his efforts to resolve international disputes. Instead, he accepted FIFA’s peace-themed accolade, which came with a trophy, medal, and certificate.
Infantino’s move to establish the award — and name Trump as its first honouree — sparked debate within the global football community. The FIFA chief has maintained a notably close rapport with Trump, appearing alongside him at several events this year. Infantino also attended Trump’s 2017 inauguration and has made repeated trips to Washington during the president’s tenure.
The event doubled as a kickoff moment for the 2026 World Cup, to be held across 16 cities in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The expanded 48-team tournament is set to begin on June 11, 2026, with the final scheduled for July 19 in the U.S. It is projected to be the most widely attended World Cup ever.
While the Nobel Committee withheld its recognition, Trump now has a football-backed peace honour to showcase — courtesy of FIFA.