November 6 – U.S. President Donald Trump has been vociferous in his displeasure at failing to win the Nobel Peace Prize for his input into the Israel-Gaza peace deal, but he could yet receive an honour in that name.
On Wednesday, FIFA announced the creation of its own peace prize, which is set to be awarded to Trump in Washington D.C. on 5 December – the same day as the 2026 World Cup draw.
FIFA said in a statement that its new prize would “reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world” and claimed that it will be “bestowed on behalf of all football-loving people from all around the world — more than five billion of the world’s population”.
Multiple sources have told Inside World Football that the prize will go to Trump. Next year, the United States, Canada and Mexico will host the 2026 World Cup. On 5 December, the US capital will host the tournament’s draw after it was shifted away from Las Vegas.
Infantino had previously backed the US President to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. On social media, he posted: “President Donald J Trump definitely deserves the Nobel Peace Prize for his decisive actions.” The Nobel committee ignored Infantino and awarded the prize to the Venezuelan pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado.
On Wednesday, both Trump and Infantino spoke at the America Business Forum in Miami, Florida, where the FIFA boss was asked if anyone at the Forum would receive the prize. Infantino replied: “Well, on the 5th of December, you will see.”
In oleaginous mode, Infantino once again praised Trump, arguing that the U.S. President always speaks his mind. He said: “He says what he thinks, he says what many people think as well but maybe don’t dare to say, and maybe that’s why he’s so successful.”
Infantino continued: “I have to say. I am a bit surprised sometimes, when I read some negative comments, because – I’m not American, but as far as I understand – President Trump was elected in the United States of America. He was quite clearly elected, and when you are in such a great democracy as the United States of America, you should, first of all, respect the results of the election. Right?”
“And he was elected based on a program, based on what he said, and he is just implementing what he said he would do. So, I think we should all support what he’s doing, because I think he’s doing pretty good – and for FIFA, even more.”
FIFA will award its peace prize on an annual basis.
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at [email protected]