FIFA awards Trump its first "peace prize" ahead of 2026 World Cup - National & International News - FRI 5Dec2025 -

FIFA awards Trump its first “peace prize” ahead of 2026 World Cup

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body of international soccer, awarded President Trump the body’s inaugural FIFA peace prize at a star-studded event. The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., hosted the draw to determine the competing groups in next summer’s World Cup, which will comprise 104 matches hosted in 16 cities in the US, Canada and Mexico. Trump appeared with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum to select the match groupings.

Despite his (disputed) claims to have ended eight wars since coming to office in January, Trump’s hopes of obtaining a Nobel Peace Prize were thwarted earlier this year. However, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with a large trophy. Infantino also presented Trump with a medal, telling him he could wear it everywhere he wanted to go. Trump is the first ever recipient of FIFA’s peace prize award.

The presentation came after a week of controversy over US military actions in the Caribbean, directed by the Trump administration. This included accusations of serious war crimes.

Infantino and the FIFA organization have cultivated close ties to Trump. Infantino met with Trump in Egypt shortly after the Gaza ceasefire deal was signed. FIFA also recently appointed Trump’s daughter Ivanka to the board of its $100m education initiative.

There have also been concerns that some players, staff and fans for teams from certain countries might be denied visas to enter the US for the World Cup next year. Many of the teams are from countries whose citizens the Trump administration has banned from entering the US. However, the White House is now signaling that visas for World Cup visitors will be expedited.