12/05/25 04:40:00
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12/05 16:38 CST FIFA gives Trump a peace prize in a departure from its
traditional focus on sport
FIFA gives Trump a peace prize in a departure from its traditional focus on
sport
By SEUNG MIN KIM
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) --- President Donald Trump was awarded the new FIFA peace prize
on Friday at the 2026 World Cup draw --- giving the spectacle to set matchups
for the quadrennial soccer tournament even more of a Trumpian flair.
Trump, who had openly campaigned for the Nobel Peace Prize, had been heavily
expected to receive the newly created FIFA prize. FIFA president Gianni
Infantino, a close ally of Trump, has said he thought Trump should have won the
Nobel for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza.
In awarding the prize, Infantino told Trump it was a "beautiful medal for you
that you can wear everywhere you want to go." Trump promptly placed the medal
around his neck. The certificate that Infantino handed Trump recognizes the
U.S. president for his actions to "promote peace and unity around the world."
Infantino also presented Trump with a gold trophy with his name on it that
depicts hands holding up the world. "You definitely deserve the first FIFA
Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way," said
Infantino, who spoke after a video was played that showed images of Trump
meeting with world leaders from countries whose conflicts he has taken credit
for resolving.
Trump thanked his family, including his wife, first lady Melania Trump, and
praised the leaders of the other two host nations --- Canadian Prime Minister
Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum --- in his brief remarks,
saying the coordination with the countries has been "outstanding."
"This is truly one of the great honors of my life," Trump said, adding that
"most important, I just want to thank everybody. The world is a safer place
now."
Infantino has often spoken about soccer as a unifier for the world, but the
prize is a departure from the federation's traditional focus on sport.
Infantino has been a frequent visitor to the Oval Office, including in November
when the administration announced new efforts to expedite visa processing for
World Cup visitors. Infantino had a prime seat at Trump's January inauguration
and FIFA has established an office at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
FIFA has given no details about the process for choosing a winner. When
Infantino first announced last month that the organization would give out a
peace prize, some of its senior officials were caught off guard, learning about
it through reports in the media.
The FIFA president was also on hand Thursday at the newly renamed Donald J.
Trump Institute of Peace in Washington, where Trump and the leaders of the
Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda signed a deal aimed at ending the
conflict in eastern Congo.
FIFA's award to Trump came during a week in which his administration has been
engaged in shuttle diplomacy to try to end the war in Ukraine, while also under
scrutiny for lethal strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and as Trump
hardens his rhetoric against immigrants.
The Nobel for peace was awarded this year to Venezuelan opposition leader Maria
Corina Machado, who said shortly after the prize was announced that she was
dedicating it in part to Trump for "his decisive support of our cause." Machado
will receive the award at the traditional Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo,
Norway, on Dec. 10.
___
Associated Press sports reporter Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this
report.
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