Donald Trump openly pursued the Nobel Peace Prize and long sought global recognition. Observers expected him to win the newly established FIFA peace award. FIFA presented Trump with the prize during the 2026 World Cup draw on Friday, adding a distinct Trump-style energy to the tournament’s matchups. Fans and critics alike noted the ceremony’s highly personalized tone.
Close Alliances Influence Decisions
Trump maintains a strong alliance with FIFA president Gianni Infantino. Infantino publicly argued that Trump deserved the Nobel for his attempts to negotiate a Gaza ceasefire. At the ceremony, Infantino declared, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize.” He often describes football as a unifying force worldwide, yet this award departs from FIFA’s usual sports focus. Trump told reporters at the Kennedy Centre that he did not know if he would receive the honor and emphasized, “I don’t need prizes. I just want to save lives.”
Controversy and Global Recognition
FIFA described the prize as honoring “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and united people globally.” The award arrived during a week of scrutiny over Trump’s lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and rising anti-immigrant rhetoric. The Nobel Peace Prize went to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, who dedicated part of her award to Trump for his “decisive support of our cause.”
