President Trump Honored as Inaugural Winner of FIFA Peace Prize at 2026 World Cup Draw
President Donald J. Trump received the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize on Friday in Washington, D.C., just before the draw for the 2026 World Cup — an event co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. The award, created to honor leaders who advance peace and global unity through sport, was presented to Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” Infantino declared as he handed Trump a gold medal and a symbolic trophy featuring two hands holding the world. “This is what we want from a leader — a leader that cares about the people.”
Trump called the honor “one of the greatest of my life,” thanking Infantino and highlighting his administration’s success in winding down conflicts around the globe. “I’ve ended wars, I’ve saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump said. “The world is a safer place now.”
The moment marked a symbolic merging of diplomacy and sport, with FIFA formally recognizing Trump’s global peace efforts under its new “Football Unites the World” initiative. Infantino previously expressed support for Trump’s efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and said he believed the U.S. President should have received the Nobel Peace Prize.
A Peace Prize Amid Military Strength
While the event celebrated global unity, the timing of the award raised eyebrows. Trump has recently overseen an aggressive military campaign targeting narco-terrorist activity in the Eastern Pacific, including dozens of strikes on drug vessels tied to cartels in Venezuela and Colombia.
When pressed on whether his threats against land-based Venezuelan traffickers conflicted with the spirit of the award, Trump was blunt. “I settled eight wars,” he said. “I’m saving lives, not just collecting prizes.”
Since early September, U.S. forces have launched over 20 precision strikes on drug-running boats, killing at least 83 suspected traffickers. Just this week, Trump vowed to expand those efforts to include cartel operations inland.
A Moment on the World Stage
Trump was greeted with applause as he walked the red carpet before the draw, brushing off speculation that he had prior knowledge of the award. “I don’t know that I’m getting it,” he said. “I’m here to represent our country.”
The former president took the opportunity to chime in on the long-standing football vs. soccer debate, joking, “This is football — there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the other one. It really does not make sense when you think about it.”
Nobel Snub, FIFA Recognition
Trump’s FIFA honor comes just weeks after he was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize, which instead went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado. But the newly minted FIFA award may provide an alternative form of validation for the former president.
Despite criticism from some corners of the media and political establishment, Trump’s international efforts — from Middle East diplomacy to his “America First” approach to peace through strength — have continued to draw recognition beyond traditional diplomatic channels.
The FIFA Peace Prize is set to be awarded annually. Trump’s selection as the inaugural recipient cements his growing presence on the world stage not just as a political leader, but as a symbolic figure of geopolitical transformation and, increasingly, cultural diplomacy.