Trump actively campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize and long sought its recognition. Observers expected him to win FIFA’s new peace award. US President Donald Trump received the FIFA peace prize at the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, adding a distinctively Trump-focused energy to the tournament’s matchups. Analysts had predicted this outcome well before the ceremony.
Close Ties Shape the Honor
Trump maintains a strong alliance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Infantino publicly stated that Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for attempting to broker a Gaza ceasefire. At the ceremony, Infantino declared, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize.” He frequently promotes football as a global unifier, yet this award marks a shift from FIFA’s usual focus on sports. Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Centre in Washington that he did not know whether he would win and emphasized, “I don’t need prizes. I just want to save lives.”
Context and International Responses
FIFA defines the award as honoring “individuals who have taken exceptional actions for peace and united people worldwide.” Trump earned the recognition amid criticism over lethal strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and his escalating rhetoric against immigrants. The Nobel Peace Prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who partially dedicated her award to Trump, praising his decisive support for her movement.
