US President Donald Trump became the first recipient of FIFA’s newly created peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw held Friday at the Kennedy Centre in Washington — a gesture widely viewed as a consolation for the long-elusive Nobel Peace Prize he has repeatedly sought.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a close ally of Trump, presented the award to the 79-year-old leader, praising his “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to promote peace and unity globally.
Trump, visibly pleased, described the recognition as one of the greatest honours of his life. “Beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this — we saved millions and millions of lives,” he said.
The peace prize was introduced by FIFA in November to celebrate individuals seen as fostering hope for future generations. Trump’s selection, however, surprised few observers given his increasingly close relationship with Infantino, who has visited the White House more frequently than any other world leader since Trump’s return to office in January.
Trump has repeatedly argued that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for claiming to have halted eight global conflicts this year, including overseeing a delicate ceasefire in Gaza. Nonetheless, the Nobel Committee awarded its 2025 prize to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado.
The US president has positioned himself at the centre of efforts to broker peace in Gaza, convening what he called a “board of peace,” with Infantino present at the signing of the agreement in Egypt. Earlier this week, his administration renamed a Washington peace institute in his honour.
Trump has also styled the 2026 World Cup — jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico — as a central project of his second administration.
Still, FIFA’s decision to award a political figure drew scrutiny, given the organisation’s frequent emphasis on neutrality. Human Rights Watch said it has requested information on the prize’s nominees, criteria and selection process but has yet to receive a response.
The announcement arrived amid mounting criticism of Trump’s domestic and foreign policies. Rights groups and political opponents point to his administration’s sweeping military build-up near Venezuela, a series of deadly airstrikes targeting suspected drug-smuggling vessels, and a stringent migration clampdown.
His government has threatened to move World Cup matches away from cities where federal troops have been deployed and has frozen asylum applications from 19 nations — among them Haiti and Iran, both of which have qualified for the tournament.
Trump has also intensified crackdowns on political adversaries and critics, particularly those who dispute his false claims of victory in the 2020 election.
Notably, Friday’s event took place at the Kennedy Centre — a venue Trump has effectively claimed as symbolic headquarters in his campaign against what he labels “woke” culture.
