United States President Donald Trump was awarded FIFA’s newly created peace prize during the draw ceremony for the 2026 Men’s Football World Cup, held at the Kennedy Center in Washington.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino, a close ally of Trump, presented the award, stating, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” and acknowledged his belief that Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict. Trump accepted the award, calling it “one of the great honours of my life.”
The award marks a notable deviation from FIFA’s traditional focus on sport. The ceremony itself was highly publicized, featuring Trump alongside Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, the leaders of the three co-hosting nations.
The 2026 Men’s World Cup will run from June 11 to July 19, 2026, featuring a record 104 matches across 16 host cities. The tournament will kick off with Mexico playing South Africa at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City.
