Trump openly pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and long desired its prestige. Observers heavily expected him to secure the newly created FIFA distinction. Organizers awarded the new FIFA peace prize to US President Donald Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, giving the event an even stronger Trump-focused atmosphere. Supporters predicted this outcome well before the ceremony.
Alliances and Advocacy Around the Award
Trump maintained a close relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, who consistently argued that Trump deserved the Nobel for his attempts to broker a Gaza ceasefire. Infantino presented the prize while declaring, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize.” He frequently promoted football as a global unifier, yet the award marked a shift away from FIFA’s usual sports-centered mission. Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Centre in Washington that he did not know whether he would receive the honor and insisted, “I don’t need prizes. I just want to save lives.”
Wider Context and International Reactions
FIFA defined the prize as recognition for “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world.” The announcement arrived during a week when Trump faced scrutiny for lethal strikes on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean and as he intensified his immigration rhetoric. The Nobel Peace Prize ultimately went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who dedicated part of her recognition to Trump for what she described as his decisive support of her movement.
