FIFA president Infantino awards inaugural peace prize to Trump at World Cup draw, sparking controversy over political neutrality

Dec 4, 2025

FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded an inaugural Peace Prize to Donald Trump at the 2026 World Cup draw, sparking widespread controversy. Critics accuse FIFA of violating its political neutrality statutes, noting the award was created without consulting its own council after Trump was passed over for the Nobel Prize. The move highlights the close alliance between Infantino and Trump ahead of the US-hosted tournament.

FIFA Peace Prize Award

▪The award was reportedly created without consulting the 37-member FIFA Council, whose members learned of it from news reports.
▪The award ceremony occurred at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., during the 2026 men's World Cup draw.
▪In his acceptance speech, Donald Trump said the award was "truly one of the great honors of my life."
▪The prize was created after Donald Trump was passed over for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.
▪Canadian PM Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, leaders of the co-host nations, attended the ceremony.
▪FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump on December 5, 2025.

Trump-Infantino Alliance

▪FIFA rents office space in New York's Trump Tower, a decision that has drawn scrutiny.
▪The World Cup draw was moved from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C., at Donald Trump's request.
▪Gianni Infantino has publicly supported Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize and cultivated a close relationship with him.
▪Infantino has attended numerous non-soccer events with Trump, including his second inauguration and a Gaza peace summit in Egypt.

FIFA Political Neutrality Concerns

▪Article 4 of FIFA's statutes requires the organization to remain neutral on matters of politics and religion.
▪In May, UEFA delegates walked out of a FIFA Congress to protest Infantino prioritizing a trip with Trump over official duties.
▪Critics noted the award was given despite the Trump administration's military actions, including deadly air strikes in the Caribbean.
▪Human rights groups and football supporters' organizations criticized the award, calling it a violation of FIFA's political neutrality.

US Immigration Restrictions Impact

▪The Trump administration has imposed immigration restrictions on 19 countries, including 2026 World Cup qualifiers Iran and Haiti.
▪The White House has not ruled out Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids targeting undocumented immigrants at World Cup venues.
▪While athletes are exempt from the travel restrictions, fans from the affected countries could be banned from attending the World Cup.

World Cup Economic Significance

▪FIFA expects to earn a record £10 billion in revenue during its 2023-2026 cycle, partly due to the expanded World Cup.
▪The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, is projected to generate over £22 billion for the U.S. economy.
▪For the 2026 tournament, FIFA will run an official ticket resale platform, earning a 30% commission on each transaction.