FIFA Gives Donald Trump Inaugural Peace Prize During 2026 World Cup Draw
Updated (5 articles)
Award ceremony held at Washington’s Kennedy Center on Dec 5, 2025 FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the newly created FIFA Peace Prize to President Donald Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw, which had been moved from Las Vegas to the Kennedy Center at Trump’s request [1][4]. The medal and a gold globe‑shaped trophy bearing Trump’s name were handed to him on stage, and the event featured performances by Andrea Bocelli and the Village People [3][5]. Trump thanked his wife Melania, his family, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in his acceptance remarks [1][2].
Infantino cites Gaza ceasefire and broader negotiations as award basis The FIFA president highlighted Trump’s role in brokering the Israel‑Hamas ceasefire and described him as a “winner” and personal friend, saying the former president deserved a Nobel Peace Prize for those efforts [1][2][3]. Infantino’s remarks linked the prize to Trump’s claimed involvement in ending conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine, asserting that “millions of lives” were saved [3][4]. The prize, announced on Nov 5, 2025, is intended to honor “exceptional actions for peace” and will be awarded annually, though its selection process remains undefined [2][5].
Trump frames award as validation of his administration’s diplomatic work In a brief interview, Trump said he did not need prizes but appreciated the honor, emphasizing his administration’s shuttle diplomacy in Ukraine, a deal to end fighting in eastern Congo, and other regional initiatives [1][2]. The ceremony occurred amid criticism of the administration for alleged lethal strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean and a hardening immigration stance [4][5]. Trump’s remarks portrayed the United States as a global peacemaker, claiming the administration “saved millions and millions of lives” [3][4].
FIFA’s expanding ties to Trump’s enterprises raise governance questions Earlier in 2025 FIFA leased office space in Trump Tower and allowed Trump to hold the World Cup trophy during a White House visit, unusual privileges for a non‑sporting figure [3][1]. The federation also appointed Ivanka Trump to the board of a $100 million education project funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales, linking the prize ceremony to broader financial initiatives [4][5]. Infantino’s personal connections to the former president, including Oval Office visits and attendance at Trump’s inauguration, underscore the close relationship between FIFA leadership and the Trump administration [1][3].
Sources
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1.
AP: FIFA Awards Trump New Peace Prize at 2026 World Cup Draw – Details the ceremony, Infantino’s praise, Trump’s thank‑you remarks, and FIFA’s shift to non‑sport awards, noting concurrent diplomatic activities .
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Newsweek: Trump Receives FIFA Peace Prize at 2026 World Cup Draw – Highlights the inaugural nature of the prize, description of the gold globe trophy, and Trump’s comments about not needing prizes while noting the Nobel Peace Prize context .
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Newsweek: FIFA Awards Donald Trump Peace Prize at 2026 World Cup Draw – Focuses on the draw’s relocation to Washington at Trump’s request, his speech, and the informal creation of the prize without council approval, plus entertainment details .
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WBNS: FIFA Awards Trump Peace Prize at 2026 World Cup Draw – Emphasizes the Kennedy Center venue, prize creation announcement, Trump’s prior Nobel campaign, and Ivanka Trump’s board appointment to a World Cup‑funded education project .
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King5: FIFA Presents New Peace Prize to President Trump at 2026 World Cup Draw – Stresses the prize’s purpose, Infantino’s link to the Gaza ceasefire claim, Trump’s praise of the honor, and the controversy surrounding his administration’s Caribbean strikes and immigration rhetoric .
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Timeline
Jan 31, 2025 – Trump’s eligibility for the Nobel Peace Prize ends, ending his campaign for that award; the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize goes to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who dedicates part of her honor to Trump [2].
Early 2025 – FIFA leases office space in Trump Tower in New York, despite already having U.S. headquarters in Miami, and permits Trump to hold the World Cup trophy during a White House visit, a privilege normally reserved for FIFA officials and champions [1].
Early 2025 – FIFA President Gianni Infantino visits the Oval Office, attends Trump’s inauguration, and cultivates close ties with the former president, signaling a deepening relationship between the federation and the U.S. administration [3].
Nov 5, 2025 – FIFA announces the creation of a new annual Peace Prize to honor “exceptional actions for peace,” stating the award will be presented each year to individuals who unite people worldwide [2].
Dec 5, 2025 – FIFA moves the 2026 World Cup draw from Las Vegas to the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at President Trump’s request, and the ceremony features performances by Andrea Bocelli and the Village People alongside sports icons such as Wayne Gretzky and Tom Brady [1][4].
Dec 5, 2025 – President Donald Trump delivers a featured speech at the draw, draws the United States into its tournament group, and claims his administration resolved conflicts from Gaza to Ukraine, saying “we’ve saved millions and millions of lives” [1][2].
Dec 5, 2025 – Gianni Infantino presents Trump with FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize—a gold globe trophy and certificate—praising him as a “winner,” a personal friend, and a peacemaker who brokered a Gaza ceasefire and should have earned the Nobel Peace Prize [1][3][5].
Dec 5, 2025 – Trump thanks his family, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and his daughter Ivanka, who has been appointed to the board of a $100 million education project funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales [2][4][5].
Dec 5, 2025 – The ceremony occurs amid scrutiny of Trump’s administration over alleged lethal strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean and hard‑line immigration rhetoric, while simultaneously engaging in shuttle diplomacy to end the Ukraine war and a deal to end conflict in eastern Congo [3][4].
Summer 2026 – The FIFA World Cup proceeds in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with groups already drawn, and the newly established Peace Prize begins its annual tradition as part of the tournament’s broader legacy [1].