Has FIFA ever created or awarded a formal 'peace prize' and what was it called?
Executive summary
FIFA created a formal award called the "FIFA Peace Prize — Football Unites the World" and presented its inaugural prize on 5 December 2025 at the 2026 World Cup final‑draw event in Washington, D.C., where President Donald J. Trump was announced as the first recipient [1] [2]. Major news organizations reported the prize’s rapid rollout, the award’s stated purpose — recognising individuals who “have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” or who “help unite people in peace” — and controversy about the selection process and timing [1] [3] [4].
1. FIFA’s new peace prize and its name
FIFA officially announced a new annual award, branded the “FIFA Peace Prize — Football Unites the World” (also reported simply as the FIFA Peace Prize), saying it will recognise individuals whose “unwavering commitment and special actions” have helped unite people in peace; FIFA said the inaugural presentation would take place on 5 December 2025 at the World Cup 26 final draw in Washington [1] [5].
2. The inaugural award and the recipient
At the World Cup draw ceremony on 5 December 2025, FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the first FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump — a high‑profile, widely reported moment that featured a medal, a trophy and a public presentation during the official draw event [3] [6] [7].
3. Why FIFA said it created the prize
FIFA’s public materials frame the prize as recognising peacemakers who use football’s capacity to unite people and to symbolically represent the world’s more than five billion football fans; the organisation described the prize as an annual honour to recognise “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” [1] [2].
4. Reporting on speed, secrecy and internal surprise
Multiple outlets said the prize’s creation and the timing of its award were abrupt. The New York Times and others reported that senior FIFA officials were surprised by the announcement and that the prize’s rollout was hastily organised, suggesting internal surprise at how quickly the new honour was established and awarded [4] [7].
5. Questions about selection process and governance
News organisations and FIFA’s own messaging indicate that FIFA has not publicly detailed a transparent selection process; reporting notes that the organisation has not disclosed how winners are chosen and that governance questions remain — for example, The Guardian reported that a new “social responsibility” committee will propose future processes, but the short‑term decision‑making was not fully explained [8] [1] [3].
6. Political context and critiques
The prize drew immediate political scrutiny because the recipient, Donald Trump, had recently been a public focus for other peace‑award conversations (including the Nobel) and because FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly praised Trump; outlets highlighted perceptions that the prize could be politically motivated or a vehicle of personal favour, and critics described the move as opportunistic or opaque [4] [9] [7]. Human rights and civil‑society critiques were reported in several outlets noting concern about FIFA’s close alignment with political figures [9] [2].
7. Media reactions and framing — competing viewpoints
Coverage varied: some outlets presented the award as a spectacle at a major FIFA event and noted Infantino’s justification that Trump’s actions merited recognition [3] [7]. Others framed the prize as a contrivance tied to Infantino’s relationship with Trump and questioned FIFA’s motives and transparency [4] [6]. Commentators and critics on social media and in opinion pieces called the award “laughable” or a “fake” prize, while FIFA framed it as a legitimate, fan‑rooted recognition [10] [1] [11].
8. What available reporting does not say
Available sources do not detail a published, independent selection committee roster, a multi‑year selection rubric, or an externally audited nomination and vetting process for the FIFA Peace Prize; reporting instead emphasises that FIFA has not disclosed full selection mechanics and that internal procedures are under development or proposed [1] [3] [4].
9. Bottom line for the original question
Yes — FIFA has created and formally awarded a peace prize: the FIFA Peace Prize — Football Unites the World — first presented on 5 December 2025 at the World Cup 26 final draw, with Donald Trump named the inaugural winner [1] [2] [3]. Contemporary coverage documents both FIFA’s stated rationale and substantial controversy about timing, transparency and the organisational motives behind the award [4] [6].