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FIFA Ethics Complaint Filed Over Trump Peace Prize After 2026 World Cup Draw

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FIFA Presented Inaugural Peace Prize to Donald Trump On December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump a newly created FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw [4][6][5]. The ceremony featured a gold globe trophy, a medal, and a certificate, and Trump thanked his family, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum [4][8][9]. Performances by Andrea Bocelli, the Village People, and several sports stars accompanied the draw, which placed the United States into its tournament group [7][9]. The prize marked FIFA’s first non‑sport award, announced in November 2025, and its selection process was not detailed [5][10].

Infantino Linked Prize to Trump’s Gaza Ceasefire Claims Infantino publicly asserted that Trump “deserved the Nobel Peace Prize” for brokering a Gaza ceasefire and highlighted the former president’s diplomatic meetings in a video shown at the ceremony [4][5][6]. He reiterated the claim on Instagram in October 2025 and at the American Business Forum in Miami in November 2025, praising Trump’s overall U.S. policies [2][3]. The award’s justification centered on these alleged peace efforts, despite the Nobel Peace Prize that year going to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado [3][6]. Critics noted the prize’s creation without formal council approval and its alignment with Infantino’s personal support for Trump [7][11].

Human‑Rights Group FairSquare Filed Ethics Complaint On December 10, 2025, London‑based advocacy nonprofit FairSquare submitted an eight‑page letter to FIFA’s Ethics Committee accusing Infantino of violating the federation’s political‑neutrality duty [1][2][3]. The complaint alleges four breaches, including awarding a prize to a sitting political leader, publicly endorsing Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize, and unilaterally creating the award without statutory authority [1][2][3]. FairSquare demands a review of the Washington, D.C., draw actions and cites Infantino’s “bias” and “politicisation” of the event [3][1]. The group also references Infantino’s close ties to Trump’s administration, such as a lease in Trump Tower and a visit to the Oval Office [4][8].

FIFA Ethics Committee Has Not Responded Publicly FIFA’s ethics body has declined to comment on the FairSquare filing, stating it does not discuss ongoing investigations and has not confirmed receipt of the complaint [1]. FIFA’s ethics code permits sanctions up to a two‑year ban for neutrality breaches, but the committee’s next steps remain unclear [1][3]. Potential penalties could include warnings, fines, compliance training, or bans from soccer‑related activities [3]. The silence leaves the federation’s handling of the controversy and its impact on the 2026 World Cup preparations uncertain [1][3].

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Timeline

Nov 2024 – Donald Trump wins a second, non‑consecutive term in the U.S. presidential election, prompting a surge in his engagement with FIFA officials, including public congratulations from Gianni Infantino and subsequent joint appearances [9].

Early 2025 – FIFA leases office space in Trump Tower in Manhattan, expanding its U.S. footprint beyond its Miami headquarters and signaling a deepening institutional relationship with the former president [5].

July 2025 – At the Club World Cup final in MetLife Stadium, Trump and Infantino agree to relocate the 2026 World Cup draw from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C., a move later justified as aligning the tournament with U.S. leadership [9].

August 2025 – Infantino presents a gold replica of the World Cup trophy to Trump in the Oval Office, an unprecedented personal gift that blurs traditional FIFA protocol and raises questions about trophy ownership [9].

Oct 2025 – Infantino posts on Instagram that Trump “definitely deserves” the Nobel Peace Prize, while a senior FIFA official later declares the new FIFA Peace Prize “bigger than the Nobel Peace Prize” [1][3].

Oct 2025 – Trump sparks controversy by calling Somali immigrants “garbage” during a rally, intensifying criticism of his presence at the upcoming World Cup draw [3].

Oct 2025 – The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, ending Trump’s eligibility for the award after the Jan 31 2025 deadline [6].

Nov 5 2025 – FIFA announces the creation of an annual Peace Prize to honor “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace,” with the inaugural award slated for the 2026 World Cup draw [4][6].

Dec 5 2025 – At the Kennedy Center, Infantino presents Trump with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a gold globe trophy and medal; Trump thanks his family and host‑nation leaders, declares “we’ve saved millions and millions of lives,” and claims his administration brokered ceasefires from Gaza to Ukraine [4][5][6][8][11][12].

Dec 5 2025 – During the same ceremony, Infantino calls Trump a “winner” and a “personal friend,” and the draw places the United States into its tournament group while performances by Andrea Bocelli, the Village People and sports stars underscore the event’s political tone [5][8].

Dec 9 2025 – Human‑rights group FairSquare files an eight‑page ethics complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, alleging Infantino breached neutrality by awarding the Peace Prize to Trump and by lobbying for Trump to receive the Nobel Peace Prize [7][10].

Dec 10 2025 – FIFA’s ethics committee announces it will investigate Infantino for possible breaches of the organization’s political‑neutrality rules, a probe that could carry penalties up to a two‑year ban under FIFA’s code [1][10].

Dec 2025 – FIFA appoints Ivanka Trump to the board of a $100 million education project funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales, further intertwining the Trump family with FIFA’s commercial activities [11].

2026 (June 11 – July 19) – The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co‑hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, with matches scheduled across 48 teams following the December 5 draw; the tournament proceeds amid ongoing scrutiny of FIFA’s political ties and pending ethics outcomes [9][4][5].

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