What is the history behind any FIFA peace prize awards?
Executive summary
FIFA created a new annual "FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World" in November 2025 and presented the inaugural award on 5 December 2025 at the 2026 World Cup final draw in Washington, D.C.; FIFA framed the prize as recognising "individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace" and said it would be awarded "on behalf of fans from all around the world" [1] [2]. The first recipient was U.S. President Donald Trump, a choice reported across outlets and described by FIFA president Gianni Infantino as fitting the prize’s aim, even as media coverage noted limited public detail on nomination or selection processes [3] [4] [2].
1. FIFA launches a new prize and sets a public stage
FIFA officially announced the FIFA Peace Prize — subtitled "Football Unites the World" — as an annual honour aimed at recognising individuals whose actions "have helped to unite people all over the world in peace," and it declared the inaugural presentation would take place at the World Cup 2026 Final Draw on 5 December 2025 in Washington, D.C. [1]. The announcement explicitly connected the award to FIFA’s brand and vast fan base, saying it would be bestowed "on behalf of all football-loving people" [1].
2. The inaugural award and its recipient
At the Kennedy Center during the World Cup draw, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump [4] [3]. Coverage across major outlets confirmed the presentation and listed the forms of recognition Trump received — including a medal, trophy and certificate — while reporting that FIFA and Infantino praised his contributions in rhetoric about peace and unity [5] [6] [3].
3. Sparse public rules and opaque selection process
Reporting emphasised that FIFA provided few details about how winners would be chosen; multiple outlets noted there were no publicly listed nominees, finalists, or a clarified independent selection mechanism for the award’s first iteration [3] [2]. Critics and some newsrooms described the process as lacking transparency and suggested the prize’s internal mechanics had not been clearly explained to FIFA’s wider governance bodies or the public [7] [8].
4. Political context and potential conflicts of interest
The award landed squarely in a political context: Infantino and Trump have a reported close relationship and the announcement came after public interactions between them, prompting scrutiny from journalists and advocacy groups about neutrality and possible favouritism [2] [8]. Observers flagged timing and the selection for the inaugural prize as likely to intensify questions over whether the accolade serves FIFA’s sporting mission or particular personal and political alliances [9] [8].
5. Media reactions and wider framing
News outlets presented competing framings. Some coverage noted the spectacle and reach of the World Cup draw and described the prize as a new avenue for FIFA to speak on global issues [4] [6]. Other reporting framed the award as a departure from FIFA’s traditional focus strictly on sport, raising concern that the prize could be used to confer political legitimacy — an interpretation advanced by several reporters and editorial sources [7] [10].
6. Criticism from governance and watchdog voices
Investigative reporting and human-rights advocacy groups highlighted institutional concerns: critics said Infantino’s unilateral announcement and the absence of council-wide involvement reflected internal governance problems and risked "reverse‑engineering" the process to favour a predetermined recipient, according to The Guardian’s reporting [8]. Fairness and neutrality in awarding an international peace prize were central to those critiques [8].
7. What is left unreported in current sources
Available sources do not mention any published statutes, independent nomination committees, voting rules, or recurrent oversight mechanisms for the FIFA Peace Prize beyond FIFA’s brief public statement [1] [2] [3]. They also do not provide a publicly released longlist or shortlist of candidates for the inaugural award [3] [2].
8. Why this matters going forward
A prize that links FIFA’s global brand to geopolitical recognition changes how the organisation is perceived and raises questions about governance, independence, and criteria for honours issued in football’s name. With FIFA promising an annual prize "on behalf of fans," future credibility will depend on transparent rules, verifiable selection procedures and demonstrable independence — elements not detailed in current reporting [1] [3] [8].
Limitations: this account is based solely on the provided reporting and FIFA’s announcement materials; available sources do not supply internal nomination documents, and they do not quote a published, binding selection framework for the prize [1] [2] [3].