Former U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize, is now expected to become the first-ever recipient of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize, MySportDab Reports.
The award will be presented during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
FIFA announced the creation of the Peace Prize to “recognize exceptional actions for peace,” though the governing body offered minimal details on the selection criteria.
The honor comes shortly after Trump’s unsuccessful bid for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, which was awarded to Venezuelan activist María Corina Machado—an outcome the White House criticized as placing “politics over peace.”
While the Nobel Committee releases nominee lists, FIFA named no finalists for its Peace Prize. Still, the organization emphasized that the award represents recognition “on behalf of fans around the world.”
Trump received the spotlight at Friday’s draw, standing alongside fellow host-nation leaders—Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum—amid ongoing trade-related tensions. “The United States has never been more respected or successful than it is now,” the White House said, calling the country the ideal stage for the 2026 World Cup.
The draw event itself appeared tailored to Trump’s influence. High-profile sports icons with ties to the former president—including hockey legend Wayne Gretzky, NFL great Tom Brady, MLB star Aaron Judge and NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal—were selected as draw assistants.
Entertainment also carried Trump’s imprint. The Village People, whose hit “Y.M.C.A.” has become closely linked to his rallies and public appearances, performed during the ceremony.
Andrew Giuliani, director of the White House FIFA World Cup Task Force, hinted at the theatrics surrounding the occasion, calling it the “MAGA-FIFA World Cup Draw.”
With the draw completed, teams now prepare for the expanded 48-nation World Cup, scheduled to kick off June 11 and conclude with the final at MetLife Stadium on July 19.
