WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA peace prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw — giving the soccer spectacle to set matchups for the quadrennial tournament even more of a Trumpian flair.
Trump, who has openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, had been heavily favored to win the newly created FIFA prize. He and FIFA president Gianni Infantino are close allies, and Infantino had made clear that he thought Trump should have won the Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
The certificate handed to Trump recognizes the U.S. president for his actions to promote peace and unity around the world. This is what we want from a leader — a leader that cares about the people, Infantino said, presenting Trump with a gold trophy depicting hands holding up the world and a gold medal around his neck, exclaiming, this is your prize, this is your peace prize.
Trump thanked his family, including First Lady Melania Trump, and acknowledged the leaders of Canada and Mexico during his brief remarks.
Infantino has often spoken of soccer as a unifier for the world, but the prize diverges from FIFA’s traditional focus on pure athletic achievement.
FIFA has defined the prize as one that honors individuals who have made significant contributions to peace, fostering unity among global communities. This acknowledgment arrives amid scrutiny against Trump's administration for military actions against alleged drug poppies in the Caribbean and intensifying rhetoric regarding immigration.
Notably, this year's Nobel Peace Prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who dedicated part of her victory to Trump for his support of her cause.
