US President Donald Trump on Friday became the first-ever recipient of FIFA’s newly established Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw, in a move seen as recognition for his global diplomacy efforts.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a longtime ally of Trump, presented the award to the 79-year-old at a ceremony held at Washington’s Kennedy Center.
“Thank you very much. This is truly one of the great honors of my life. Beyond awards, Gianni and I discussed how we have saved millions of lives,” Trump said.
Infantino praised Trump for his “exceptional and extraordinary” contributions to promoting peace and global unity. FIFA announced the annual prize in November, stating it would honour individuals who inspire hope for future generations.
The award marks a high-profile moment for Trump, who has long asserted that his efforts in international diplomacy, including ceasefire initiatives in conflict zones, make him a worthy contender for the Nobel Peace Prize. Last month, however, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the prize to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado.
Trump has actively positioned himself at the forefront of peace efforts in Gaza, establishing a “board of peace” and participating in the signing of a ceasefire in Egypt alongside Infantino. His administration also renamed a Washington-based peace institute in his honour this week.
The US president has made the 2026 World Cup a major focus of his second term, intertwining sports diplomacy with his broader international agenda.
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Yet it was an extraordinary gesture for FIFA, a sporting organization that trumpets its political neutrality.
There has been little transparency around the prize. Human Rights Watch says it has written to FIFA to request a list of the nominees, the judges, the criteria and the selection process — and has received no response.
The prize came as Trump faces criticism from Democrats and rights groups on a host of issues.
The self-proclaimed “president of peace” has launched a huge US military build-up around Venezuela and ordered deadly airstrikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats.
He has also ordered a hardline migration crackdown, threatening to move World Cup games from cities where he has sent troops and freezing asylum decisions from 19 countries — including World Cup participants Haiti and Iran.
And he has cracked down on political opponents, rival ideologies and those who challenge his false claim he won the 2020 election.
The venue for the draw, the Kennedy Center, was where Trump installed himself this year as chairman in what he called a war on “woke” culture.
