Infantino Awards Trump FIFA Peace Prize Before 2026 World Cup

5 articles · Updated · Bloomberg · May 12

Gianni Infantino presented Donald Trump with FIFA’s newly created Peace Prize on Dec. 5 at the Kennedy Center, giving the US president a trophy, medal and certificate.
FIFA said the award recognized Trump’s “many peacemaking accomplishments,” but the move underscored how deeply politics has bled into the 2026 World Cup buildup.
The prize stood out even by FIFA’s standards because the 2026 tournament had been expected to look more politically neutral after Russia and Qatar World Cups were dogged by controversy.
That backdrop now feeds wider unease around the US-hosted event, where Trump-related political drama and fears tied to ICE enforcement are already shadowing the tournament.

Is the 2026 World Cup becoming the ultimate example of 'sportswashing,' sacrificing football's integrity for political gain?

Can sports bodies remain credible while giving peace awards to leaders who then launch military campaigns?