Trump Awarded Inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at World Cup Draw

Donald Trump received the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize on Thursday evening during the official draw for the 2026 World Cup at Capital One Arena.FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the newly created award to Trump, citing his “efforts to foster dialogue and reduce international tensions during his presidency.” The ceremony took place moments before the draw for the expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

In his acceptance remarks, Trump thanked Infantino and FIFA, stating the prize reflected “tremendous progress toward world peace that the fake news media refuses to report.” He also praised the upcoming World Cup as “the greatest sporting event the world has ever seen.”Infantino announced that the FIFA Peace Prize will become an annual distinction, separate from the organization’s existing awards. No specific diplomatic achievements were detailed in the official citation, though references were made to Middle East peace accords signed during Trump’s 2017–2021 term.

The surprise announcement drew immediate reactions from global leaders and football officials present at the televised event. The prize presentation delayed the draw ceremony by approximately twelve minutes. The 2026 World Cup is scheduled to begin in June 2026 across sixteen host cities in North America.