US President Donald Trump has become the first person to receive FIFA’s newly created peace prize during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday.
The honor, presented at the Kennedy Center in Washington, was seen as a symbolic gesture for the 79-year-old who has long expressed interest in winning a Nobel Peace Prize.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who has built a close relationship with Trump, handed the US president the award during the event.
Trump thanked him, calling it one of the great honors of his life and adding that he and Infantino had saved millions of lives, though he did not give details.
“Thank you very much. This is truly one of the great honors of my life. And beyond awards, Gianni and I were discussing this, we saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump said.
Infantino said Trump was chosen for his “exceptional and extraordinary” efforts to encourage peace and unity across the globe.
The football body introduced the annual award in November, saying it was meant to celebrate people who inspire “hope for future generations.”
The choice of Trump as the first winner surprised few observers, given his strong ties with Infantino.
The FIFA president has visited the White House more than any other foreign leader since Trump returned to office.
Trump frequently argued that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, pointing to his claimed role in resolving international conflicts this year, including a fragile truce in Gaza.
However, the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2024 prize to Venezuelan opposition figure Maria Corina Machado instead.
Trump has also positioned himself as chair of a “board of peace” for Gaza, a deal Infantino attended in Egypt.
His administration recently renamed a Washington peace institute in his honor.
The World Cup has become a major theme of Trump’s second term, making FIFA’s gesture particularly notable for an organization that often stresses political neutrality.
Questions have been raised about how the peace prize was awarded.
Human Rights Watch said it asked FIFA for information about the nominees, the judging panel, and the criteria used but received no reply.
The award comes at a time when Trump is facing criticism from Democrats and human rights groups on a range of policies.
His administration has expanded the US military presence near Venezuela and carried out lethal strikes on boats accused of drug trafficking.
He has introduced strict migration measures as well, warning that World Cup matches could be moved from cities where he deployed troops.
His government has also paused asylum decisions from 19 countries, including Haiti and Iran, both of which will appear at the tournament.
Trump has also taken steps against political opponents and groups that dispute his false claim of winning the 2020 election.
The ceremony venue, the Kennedy Center, is the same institution where Trump installed himself as chairman earlier this year as part of what he described as a campaign against “woke” culture.
🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇸#FIFAWorldCup pic.twitter.com/Nm2ELMh8bh
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) December 5, 2025
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