...
By Peter Aitken and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
President Donald Trump was awarded the first FIFA Peace Prize on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw, adding a twist to the event to set the matchups for the top tournament in the world's most popular sport.
“President Trump’s Peace through Strength foreign policy is a tried-and-true approach that keeps America safe and deters global threats that has already ended eight wars in less than a year. There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever Peace Prize than President Trump.” White House Spokesman Davis Ingle told Newsweek in response to a request for comment on Friday.
Why It Matters
Trump, who has openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, had been widely viewed as the front-runner for the newly created FIFA honor. He is a close ally of FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has said Trump deserved the Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
Read More on News
Eligibility for this year's Nobel ended on January 31—too soon for Trump to have achieved much in the way of accolades following his January 20 inauguration—but he has been touted by some as a contender next year for various peace deals that have come about during his first year back in office.
The FIFA award comes as Trump’s administration has faced recent scrutiny over lethal strikes oyearsn alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and as the president steps up his rhetoric on immigration. The Nobel Peace Prize this year went to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who said she was dedicating part of the honor to Trump for “his decisive support of our cause.”
...
What To Know
Infantino presented the inaugural FIFA prize to Trump on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw, praising the president's efforts in securing peace deals, including a deal between Israel and Hamas.
“This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” Infantino said at the ceremony. The award marks a rare move by world soccer’s governing body into global politics and amid Infantino’s frequent comments about the sport’s power to unite.
Infantino also handed Trump a certificate that recognizes the U.S. president for his actions to “promote peace and unity around the world.”
Speaking to reporters at the Kennedy Center, Trump said he was unsure whether he would receive the award, adding, “I don’t need prizes. I just want to save lives.”
Trump also received a gold trophy depicting several hands holding up a globe that featured the president's name etched onto the base.
The president then thanked his family, his wife and praised the leaders of the other two host nations for the tournament—Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum—in his brief remarks, saying the coordination with the countries has been “outstanding.”
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump said, adding, “Most important, I just want to thank everybody. The world is a safer place now.”
What Is a FIFA Peace Prize?
FIFA announced its inaugural Peace Prize on November 5, saying it was aiming to "recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace" in contrast to an "increasingly unsettled and divided world."
Infantino described the prize as representing a desire for peace and that "of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize—Football Unites the World will recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations."
The award will be presented to individuals who have helped "unite people all over the world in peace and consequently deserve a special and unique recognition," according to the FIFA website.
Which Countries Nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize?
Trump has received plaudits from several world leaders for his efforts to secure peace deals amid conflicts around the world, including a conflict that broke out this year between Cambodia and Thailand, a yearslong conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan and the recent deal between Israel and Hamas after nearly two years of fighting.
Trump has attempted to negotiate in conflicts between India and Pakistan, Rwanda and Congo, Egypt and Ethiopia, and Serbia and Kosovo, according to the White House.
Some have been quick to credit Trump for his work, including Israel and Pakistan, both of whom said they will make nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet also said he would nominate Trump for his role in ending the conflict with neighboring Thailand, though that deal collapsed just two weeks after being made.
This article includes reporting by the Associated Press.
Update 12/5/25, 2:49 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
Update 12/5/25, 6:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines