U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday received the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony held in Washington D.C., an honour FIFA President Gianni Infantino said recognises Trump’s contributions to preventing global conflict and advancing the growth of world football.
The award, presented with a large trophy and a commemorative medal, immediately ignited debate over whether FIFA was venturing too deeply into political territory.
Speaking shortly after accepting the prize, Trump described the recognition as “one of the great honours of my life,” asserting that his administration helped defuse several major international crises.
“We saved millions of lives, look at the Congo, 10 million died, and they were heading for another 10 million very quickly,” he claimed.
He stated that U.S. intervention helped avert potential conflict between India and Pakistan, saying, “We stopped wars from happening just before they started.”
Trump also commended Infantino’s leadership, particularly as the United States, Canada, and Mexico gear up to co-host the 2026 World Cup. He celebrated record-breaking ticket sales, saying: “You’ve set new records, far beyond what anyone thought possible.”
Declaring that “the world is a safer place now,” Trump added that the U.S. had become “the hottest country in the world right now.”
But the award soon prompted questions about FIFA’s neutrality and its relationship with powerful political figures.
On The Global Story podcast, BBC sports editor Dan Roan highlighted Infantino’s long-standing personal rapport with Trump, dating back to their parallel election victories in 2016. Roan noted that the creation and presentation of the Peace Prize by FIFA itself risks blurring the line between global football governance and political influence.
While Infantino lauded Trump for what he called a “global impact,” critics argue that FIFA should avoid gestures that could be seen as validating political narratives or aligning the organisation with any world leader.