Announcement of the FIFA Peace Prize
For the first time in history, FIFA gave its inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to US President Donald Trump at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, during the draw ceremony for the 2026 FIFA World Cup-the same event where it introduced the World Cup trophy. This time, it was announced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino himself, adding that this award comes with some political significance because of its recipient.
Purpose of the New FIFA Peace Prize
On November 5, FIFA announced that it would begin awarding the Peace Prize to those individuals who strive to bring peace and harmony into the world. The award, according to the organization, is one way of acknowledging those efforts that unite people through various actions of promoting peace. According to Infantino, the prize would increase FIFA's credibility and was given on behalf of five billion football fans throughout the world.
Trump Receives the First Peace Prize
- During the World Cup 2026 draw, Infantino handed Trump the gold medal that comes attached to the Peace Prize. He pointed to Trump's involvement in international diplomacy and praised him for preventing several conflicts.
- Trump hailed the award as among the most important honors of his life. He said his diplomatic efforts saved millions of lives, citing the peace agreement between Congo as one example. Trump said violence between Congo and Rwanda caused the deaths of 'millions of people' and many more were at risk, and he acted to limit further loss of life. Trump also said he helped prevent a potential conflict between India and Pakistan, adding his actions helped stop or prevent wars in other parts of the world.
- He had been considered a probable candidate for this year's Nobel Peace Prize. But the award from the Norwegian Nobel Committee went to Maria Corina Machado, opposition leader of Venezuela, disappointing Trump.
Criticism of the Award Decision
Human Rights Watch criticized FIFA for handing its Peace Prize to Trump. In its letter, it mentioned that until now, FIFA had not been transparent in selecting candidates for the prize, neither publishing a list of nominees nor the names of the members of the jury. According to reports, some members of the FIFA Council also expressed similar concerns: 2026 World Cup Format The host countries, Mexico, Canada, and the United States of America, will begin the 2026 FIFA World Cup on June 11, 2026. Mexico's match with South Africa will headline the opening fixture. The final will be in New Jersey on July 19. For the first time ever in the history of the tournament, 48 teams enter the group stage. The teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Forty-two are qualified while 22 are vying for the remaining six spots.
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