Trump and Infantino
By Ab Susan
The draw for the 2026 World Cup turned into a bit of a spectacle when Donald Trump was handed the very first FIFA Peace Prize – a brand‑new award created to spotlight “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and unity” .It was presented right after the group‑stage line‑up was announced, turning what could have been a purely sporting moment into a political headline.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino took the stage at Washington’s Kennedy Center to hand Trump a gold‑plated medal and a trophy, lauding the U.S. president’s “efforts to promote peace and unity around the world” . The ceremony was attended by leaders from the co‑host nations – Canada’s Mark Carney and Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum – as well as a host of American celebrities, making it a truly star‑studded affair.
Trump, ever the showman, called the honour “one of the great honors of my life” and went on to claim he had “saved millions and millions of lives” through his diplomatic initiatives, citing cease‑fires in Gaza, the Congo and a India‑Pakistan de‑escalation .He even promised to wear the medal everywhere, quipping that it would be “a beautiful medal for you that you can wear everywhere you want to go”.
Unsurprisingly, the award sparked a wave of criticism. Many fans and commentators argued that a sports body should stay out of partisan politics, pointing out that the selection process wasn’t transparent and that the prize seemed more like a political gift than a genuine accolade. At the same time, some world leaders and media outlets praised the move as a bold step for FIFA to use its platform for broader global messaging.
All of this unfolded just as the 2026 World Cup kicks off next summer, with the tournament set to feature 48 teams across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Whether the peace prize will become a regular fixture or remain a one‑off stunt remains to be seen, but it certainly gave the draw an unforgettable, if controversial, twist.
