It’s not the Nobel Prize, but a FIFA award: Donald Trump (79) has received the world football association’s new Peace Prize. The US President was honored at the draw for the World Cup groups in Washington with the award recently initiated by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“This is their price,” said Infantino at the gala show at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, not far from Trump’s official residence, the White House. “This award is given annually to recognize an individual who promotes a clear commitment to peace in the world.”
Trump hung the gold medal around his own neck. “This is one of the greatest honors of my life,” he said.
Premiere for FIFA award
FIFA only announced the prize at the beginning of November. In the future, it will be used to honor people who have distinguished themselves through “extraordinary actions for peace and unity in the world,” it said. It is not necessary for the honorees to have a football connection.
Critics had assumed that Infantino had created the award specifically for Trump. There is no transparent process, no nominees, no jury, and was apparently new for the FIFA Council, said the director of Human Rights Watch, Minky Worden, at a press conference by various groups in Washington two days before the draw for the upcoming awards.
Infantino had advocated that Trump should receive the Nobel Peace Prize. It is well known that the US President claims this incomparably more important honor for himself.
Close cooperation between Trump and Infantino
Trump and Infantino have maintained a close relationship for months as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup. The USA is the main host of the XXL tournament, hosting 76 games. There will be 13 games each in Mexico and Canada.
Infantino was a guest at the White House several times. Trump is chairman of the American World Cup task force he founded. The US President recently announced that he would ban the staging of games in US cities if they did not adhere to the safety rules he had prescribed. Infantino would make such a historic venue swap for him, he assured.
Shortly before the draw, Trump backed away from this threat. “No, I don’t want to do that.” But he assured that the problem would be solved if there was one. “I’ve proven this in Washington DC and everywhere else we’ve been, so we’ll get a handle on this quite easily,” he said.
Infantino was the US president’s guest at Trump’s inauguration in January and at the peace summit in Sharm El Sheikh. Ending the Gaza war is one of several peacemaking measures that Trump claims for himself. His efforts to end Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine have not yet been successful.
At the Club World Cup in the summer, the Republican made headlines in the football world with an unusual appearance at Chelsea FC’s award ceremony. Against all odds, Trump stayed on the podium with the players for the winning photo. Infantino gently pushed him out of focus.