Trump Honoured With First-Ever Fifa Peace Prize Ahead Of 2026 World Cup Draw
United States President Donald Trump was awarded the inaugural Fifa Peace Prize on Friday in Washington DC, just ahead of the draw for the 2026 Fifa World Cup.
The new accolade, introduced this year by Fifa President Gianni Infantino, recognises individuals who have made “exceptional and extraordinary contributions to peace” and who have “united people across the world.” Trump’s selection had been widely anticipated, given his recent appearances alongside Infantino.
At the ceremony, Trump received a large golden trophy, a medal, and a certificate before delivering a speech to attendees.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” he said, adding that his diplomatic efforts had saved “tens of millions of lives” and prevented wars before they could begin.
Trump also highlighted the strong ticket demand for the upcoming World Cup. “Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football, or as we call it soccer. It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible,” he said.
He described the United States as having regained prominence on the global stage. “The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now.”
The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, running from June 11 to July 19.
Following his speech, Trump joined Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney to conduct the ceremonial draw. Each leader revealed the ball for their nation, which had already been assigned groups, before posing for a selfie with Infantino.
Mexico was placed in Group A and will play in the opening match, Canada in Group B, and the United States in Group D.
Trump ended with a lighthearted remark on the American naming of football. “We have to find another name for the NFL. This is football, we call it soccer here in the USA but it is really football. It doesn’t make sense that we call it soccer.”
