Trump Receives First FIFA Peace Prize
On Friday, President Trump was awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize for his notable efforts in fostering global unity, calling the recognition “one of the greatest honors of my life.”
During the ceremony held before the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC, FIFA President Gianni Infantino emphasized, “This is your award, this is the award of peace.”
Trump accepted a gold medal, which he placed around his neck, as Infantino commended his contributions toward world peace.
Infantino remarked, “This is what we want in a leader: someone who genuinely cares for the people.” Trump also received a golden trophy bearing his name, featuring two hands supporting the globe.
“This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” Trump expressed, reflecting on his claim of having ended a conflict and saved millions. He asserted, “The world is a safer place now.”
He pointed out that, compared to a year ago, the United States is currently “the hottest country in the world,” adding that they intend to maintain this status.
FIFA had announced the creation of the annual FIFA Peace Prize, officially named Football Unites the World, just a month prior to the ceremony.
While Trump was seen as a strong contender for the newly established award, he insisted that he had no prior knowledge of his win before walking the red carpet that evening.
“I don’t know if you understand. It doesn’t get any official attention. I hear about the Peace Prize, but I’m here to represent our country in a different way,” he explained to the press.
However, he underscored that external validation wasn’t his primary concern. “We really want to save lives, not just prizes. We need to save lives,” he noted, adding, “I’m saving a lot of lives. I’ve saved millions and millions of lives. That’s what I truly aim to accomplish.”
Post-ceremony, Trump proposed rebranding American football, claiming that the standard term should be used to refer to the sport known worldwide as football. “This is football, there’s no question about it,” he stated, suggesting they find a different name for American football, which he found nonsensical.
Infantino has previously voiced his belief that Trump deserved the Nobel Prize for his role in negotiating a ceasefire in Gaza. This year, however, Trump missed out on the Nobel Prize, which was awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado.
Furthermore, Trump remained steadfast that the FIFA Peace Prize aligns with his recent commitments to combat Venezuelan drug trafficking. “So I decided eight wars,” he mentioned when queried about his potential chances of winning prior to the draw.
These comments surfaced after Trump’s threats to initiate expanded military actions against onshore Venezuelan drug traffickers, which he stated could also affect Colombian traders.
Since early September, the U.S. military has targeted at least 22 vessels suspected of drug trafficking in international waters near Venezuela and Colombia, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 individuals.
