US President Donald Trump was presented with the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington. FIFA President Gianni Infantino handed Trump the honour, introduced last month to recognise individuals for exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.
Calling the prize one of the great honours of my life, Trump used his brief remarks to claim credit for helping end conflicts worldwide, including a ceasefire between India and Pakistan earlier this year, a claim India has repeatedly denied. Pakistan, however, has publicly credited Trump for assisting in brokering the May ceasefire following India’s Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Infantino praised Trump’s actions to promote peace, presenting him with a medal and certificate. The award comes after Trump failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year despite his public campaigning for it.
The decision has drawn criticism from football fans globally, who argue the honour is politically motivated and undermines the separation of sports and politics. The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Mexico, Canada and the United States, will kick off on June 11 with a match between Mexico and Canada.
