Trump Receives Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at World Cup Draw

In Washington on Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump became the first recipient of FIFA's Peace Prize, awarded during the ceremony that also served as the 2026 World Cup draw. FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the new honor, describing it as a “beautiful medal” and noting that the prize marks a departure from FIFA's traditional focus on sport. Trump said it was, in his words, “one of the great honours of my life.” The award recognizes his actions to “promote peace and unity around the world.”

Trump accepted the medal, placing it around his neck, and was handed a certificate along with a gold trophy bearing his name and depicting hands lifting up the world. Infantino told Trump that the prize is his “to wear everywhere you want to go.” Trump thanked his family, including Melania Trump, and lauded the leaders of the other two host nations—Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—for coordinating the event. He added that the collaboration had been “outstanding.”

The moment underscored FIFA’s evolving approach to diplomacy, with Infantino stressing soccer as a unifier even as the prize’s creation drew debate about the role of sport in global politics. The ceremony occurred alongside the 2026 World Cup draw, which is shaping up as a high-profile showcase for the tournament and its ambitious ambitions for unity through sport. The event also connected to the renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, highlighting the broader narrative tying the draw, diplomacy, and pageantry together.

Cover image source: FIFA gives President Donald Trump Peace Prize in departure from its traditional focus on sport 🔗

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