President Donald Trump received the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the award, honoring Trump's efforts toward global peace. The event also unveiled the groups for the expanded 48-team tournament hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw took place on December 5, 2025, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., amid snowfall outside. Hosted by Heidi Klum and Kevin Hart, the ceremony featured performances by Andrea Bocelli, who sang 'Nessun Dorma,' Lauryn Hill with YG Marley, and Robbie Williams with Nicole Scherzinger performing FIFA's hymn 'Desire.' Sports icons including Tom Brady, Shaquille O'Neal, Wayne Gretzky, and Aaron Judge assisted with the draw, while the Village People closed with 'Y.M.C.A.'
A highlight was the presentation of the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, announced by FIFA on November 5, 2025, to recognize exceptional actions for peace. Gianni Infantino handed Trump a gold trophy depicting hands holding a globe engraved with his name, a certificate, and a medal. 'You definitely deserve the first FIFA peace prize for your action, for what you have obtained – in your way – but you obtained it in an incredible way,' Infantino said. 'You can always count, Mr. President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community.' Trump, who wore the medal, responded, 'This is truly one of the great honors of my life.' He thanked his family, First Lady Melania Trump, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for their coordination.
The prize followed the Nobel Peace Prize award to Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado in October 2025, which Trump had sought for brokering ceasefires including in Gaza and between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Infantino, a close ally who attended Trump's inauguration and multiple events, praised Trump's energy and role in uniting people through football.
The draw separated 48 teams into 12 groups of four, with hosts placed in advance: Mexico in Group A, Canada in Group B, and the United States in Group D. Key groups include:
- Group A: Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Winner of Play-off Group D
- Group B: Canada, Winner of Play-off Group A, Qatar, Switzerland
- Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland
- Group D: United States, Paraguay, Australia, Winner of Play-off Group C
- And so on through Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama.
The tournament runs from June 11, 2026, to July 19, 2026, across 16 cities in North America, with the final at MetLife Stadium in the U.S. It features 104 matches, expected to draw 7 million stadium attendees and 6 billion viewers. Qualifying highlights: Japan qualified first; debuts for Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan, and Uzbekistan; 16 new teams since 2022; Ivory Coast, England, and Tunisia conceded no goals. An expedited visa process aids international fans, exempting verified ticket holders from certain restrictions.
Human Rights Watch questioned FIFA's selection criteria in a November 11 letter, receiving no response. Trump remarked on soccer's name in the U.S., reminiscing about watching Pelé with the New York Cosmos.
