FIFA has unveiled a new annual peace prize to honor individuals for extraordinary actions promoting peace and unity. The inaugural award will be presented on December 5, 2025, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., during the 2026 World Cup draw. Speculation swirls around former U.S. President Donald Trump as a potential recipient, given his close ties to FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
FIFA, the governing body of world soccer, announced the creation of the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World on November 6, 2025. The award aims to recognize "individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world," according to the organization's statement. FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized its importance, stating, "In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it's fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace." He added that "football stands for peace."
The prize marks a departure for FIFA, which has promoted soccer's unifying power but never offered an official peace award. Details on the selection process, criteria, and whether the prize is financial or symbolic remain undisclosed, with FIFA declining to respond to questions from the Associated Press.
The announcement coincided with a business leaders' conference in Miami, where Infantino and Trump appeared together. Their relationship dates back years, including a 2018 White House visit where Infantino presented Trump with a personalized jersey and symbolic cards. Last August, they met in Washington, with Infantino calling Trump "a great friend of football." Recently, Ivanka Trump joined the board of a $100 million education project partly funded by 2026 World Cup ticket sales.
Speculation about Trump intensified after he missed the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, awarded to Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado. Infantino had posted on Instagram on October 9, 2025, that Trump "definitely deserves" the Nobel for brokering a Gaza ceasefire. When asked in Miami if Trump would win the FIFA prize, Infantino laughed and replied, "On the 5th of December, you will see."
The presentation will occur alongside the 2026 World Cup draw, a tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities with 104 matches in 12 groups of four teams. The event at the Kennedy Center is expected to draw around one billion viewers, blending soccer excitement with global peace advocacy.
Commentators note the mix of sports and politics. Kieran Cunningham remarked, "Infantino's kneejerk reaction to any criticism of these moves is that politics and sport don’t mix, but politics and sport mix when it suits him." The prize's timing raises questions about FIFA's motives amid preparations for the landmark tournament.
