Trump linked to surprise FIFA peace prize ahead of draw
With delegations arriving in Washington ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw, what is normally a celebratory week for global football has taken on an unexpectedly tense undercurrent. Conversations inside the Kennedy Center have been dominated less by group predictions and more by a sudden move from FIFA leadership.
The draw will determine group stage pairings for the 42 nations already qualified for the 2026 tournament, while playoff hopefuls will learn their potential routes for March.
As reported by ESPN, the United States, which will host most of the tournament’s 104 matches, is expected to be represented at the ceremony by President Donald Trump, who will appear alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
A new award with little warning
On 5 November, FIFA announced the creation of a prize titled the FIFA Peace Prize Football Unites the World, saying it would honor individuals who have advanced unity or peace through the sport. The organization confirmed on its official website that the first edition will be presented during the draw in Washington.
Read also: Man United’s summer attempt to sign Gallagher blocked, but situation now shifting
News outlets including France 24 and Channel News Asia reported that FIFA framed the initiative as part of a wider effort to highlight football’s relevance in resolving global conflict. Still, the rollout raised eyebrows because such honors typically pass through FIFA’s internal committees or advisory bodies before reaching the public stage.
Council reaction: confusion and frustration
According to reporting from The Athletic, the decision took many senior officials by surprise. Members of FIFA’s 37 seat council, including its eight vice presidents, were not briefed ahead of the announcement and had no input into the selection criteria. One council member, speaking to the outlet, said they first heard about the prize only when the media release appeared.
France 24 noted similar unease, with several figures questioning why the initiative was kept confidential when FIFA’s governance guidelines usually call for consultation on new awards or political gestures.
“People are still trying to understand how this came together,” one official familiar with the discussions said privately, describing a week that has felt more political than usual.
Read also: Barcelona’s captain takes indefinite mental-health leave
Speculation over the inaugural recipient
FIFA has not revealed who will receive the first Peace Prize. But both The Athletic and ESPN report widespread speculation that Trump may be the intended honoree, given his prominent role in promoting the 2026 World Cup and his close relationship with Infantino.
Since returning to office, Trump has claimed he ended eight wars, though foreign policy experts have challenged that assertion.
Asked whether Trump would be the recipient, Infantino offered only “You will see.” He later praised the United States president as “a really close friend” with “incredible energy.”
With the world’s largest sporting event less than two years away, FIFA now finds itself trying to balance the pageantry of the draw with questions about transparency, timing and the unusually political backdrop of its newest award.
Read also: Hoeneß questions Liverpool’s handling of Florian Wirtz
Sources: The Athletic, ESPN, FIFA dot com, France 24, Channel News Asia.
