President Donald Trump on Friday accepted FIFA’s inaugural “Peace Prize” at the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center, with soccer’s governing body saying the new award honors “exceptional actions for peace and unity.”
FIFA announced the prize last month and slated its first presentation for Dec. 5; FIFA President Gianni Infantino handed it to Trump during the draw ceremony in Washington, the league wrote in a press release. Trump had been widely expected to win after the Nobel committee passed him over in October, coverage noted. (RELATED: Trump Attends FIFA Club World Cup Award Ceremony, Celebrates With Players At Metlife Stadium)
“I don’t need the prizes,” Trump told the audience earlier as he praised Infantino’s stewardship of the tournament.
The award was folded into a pageant-heavy program ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which the U.S., Mexico and Canada will co-host. Infantino previewed the prize on Nov. 5, casting it as an annual honor aligned with FIFA’s “Football Unites the World” campaign.
Live coverage from the Kennedy Center showed Trump arriving with Infantino and addressing attendees as the ceremony began. FIFA billed the draw as a global showcase and the first outing for its peace award; ESPN likewise reported on the prize’s creation and timing.
(L/R) US President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the draw for the 2026 FIFA Football World Cup taking place in the US, Canada and Mexico, at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025. (Photo by Stephanie Scarbrough / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)
Infantino personally presented the trophy and that Trump had been seen as the assumed winner since FIFA floated the award, USA Today reported.
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