FIFA gives President Donald Trump a peace prize in a departure from its traditional focus on sport

"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 Price, had been heavily favored to win the newly created FIFA prize. He and FIFA president Gianni Infantino are close allies, and Infantino had made it clear that he thought Trump should have won the Nobel"

"This is your prize, this is your peace prize, Infantino said. He has repeatedly spoken about soccer as a unifier for the world, but the prize is a departure from the federation's traditional focus on sport. Trump told reporters upon arriving at the Kennedy Center that he didn't know whether he was going to get the award, and added: I don't need prizes. I just want to save lives."

"FIFA has described the prize as one that rewards individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world. It comes during a week where Trump's administration has been under scrutiny for lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and as Trump hardens his rhetoric against immigrants. The Nobel this year was eventually awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who said shortly after receiving the prize that she was dedicating it"

President Donald Trump received the new FIFA peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw, adding a Trumpian flair to the tournament. Trump had been heavily favored for the newly created prize and has campaigned openly for the Nobel Peace Prize. FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a close ally, said he thought Trump should have won the Nobel for efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and framed soccer as a unifier. Trump said he did not know if he would receive the award and added that he doesn't need prizes, only to save lives. The announcement came amid scrutiny of lethal Caribbean strikes and tougher immigration rhetoric; the Nobel went to Maria Corina Machado, who partially dedicated it to Trump.

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