After Nobel Snub, Donald Trump in Line for New ‘Peace Prize’ — Courtesy of FIFA

A new global peace prize has entered the scene — and it has been created not by the Nobel Committee, but by FIFA.

The world’s football governing body announced this week that it would begin presenting an annual award to recognise “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” Few details were provided, and FIFA made no indication that the potential recipients would be restricted to the world of sport.

That ambiguity has fuelled widespread speculation that one prominent candidate could be former United States President Donald Trump, who has openly — though unsuccessfully — campaigned for a Nobel Peace Prize.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump have built a notably close relationship in the run-up to next year’s World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The pair crossed paths in Miami on Wednesday — coinciding with FIFA’s announcement of its new prize — where both delivered speeches at a conference for business leaders.

Infantino’s Comments and Growing Speculation

Infantino has previously made his admiration for Trump clear, describing him as a champion of global peace.

On 9 October, the day before this year’s Nobel Peace Prize was announced, the FIFA chief wrote on Instagram that Trump “definitely deserves” the award for his efforts towards a peace deal in Gaza.

When the Nobel Prize was awarded instead to Venezuelan pro-democracy activist María Corina Machado, attention quickly turned to FIFA’s new initiative.

Asked in Miami on Wednesday whether Trump would be the recipient of FIFA’s inaugural peace award, Infantino laughed and replied, “On the 5th of December, you will see.”

Award to Be Revealed During World Cup Draw

The FIFA Peace Prize is scheduled to be announced on 5 December in Washington D.C., during the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center — a venue that Trump has reportedly helped reshape this year.

The event will determine the 12 groups of four teams each, setting the stage for the 104-match tournament that will take place across 16 cities in June and July. The draw, typically focused solely on football logistics, marks a rare instance of FIFA pairing sport with a symbolic peace initiative.

The date and venue for the draw were revealed in August during a meeting at the White House’s Oval Office.

A New Direction for FIFA

FIFA has yet to clarify how the recipient of the peace prize will be chosen. The organisation declined to respond to questions from the Associated Press regarding who will select the winner or what criteria will guide the decision.

In a post on Instagram, Infantino wrote:

“It’s fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace.”

Earlier, FIFA explained that the award would honour “individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and, by doing so, have united people across the world.”

While the organisation often promotes football as a vehicle for peace and unity, this is the first time it has introduced a formal prize dedicated to such recognition.

Political Implications

If Trump were to win the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, many observers believe it would reinforce the perception that the award was conceived in response to his failure to secure the Nobel Peace Prize.

As of Thursday, few FIFA officials were willing to speak publicly about the prize’s planning or selection process.