FIFA President Gianni Infantino has awarded US President Donald Trump the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, sending shockwaves through the soccer world. The surprise move was seen as a consolation prize for Trump after his long-held desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
The award came during the 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, where Infantino announced that Trump had been chosen for the honor. Infantino, who has become a close ally of Trump's, praised the US president for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and said he thought Trump "definitely deserved" the award.
Trump was handed a gold trophy and a medal by Infantino, which he accepted with great fanfare, saying that winning the prize was one of the greatest honors of his life. The move has been widely ridiculed, with many questioning why Infantino would give such an honor to Trump given his administration's record on issues like immigration and human rights.
The decision has also raised eyebrows about Infantino's leadership style and motives. Like his predecessors Havelange and Blatter, Infantino has come under criticism for his handling of controversies and allegations of corruption within FIFA. However, it remains to be seen whether the award will have any lasting impact or serve as a distraction from the ongoing issues facing the organization.
The controversy surrounding the award comes at a time when soccer fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada. While many U.S. soccer fans were initially excited about the prospect of hosting the tournament, concerns have grown in recent months about the tournament's dynamic ticket pricing and teams being forced to play midday matches in the heat.
In a bizarre twist, Infantino has been accused of using his influence to cut Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension from two to zero games, allowing him to participate in the World Cup without penalty. The move was seen as a principle that should not be accepted by Blatter, who claimed it undermined disciplinary decisions made by FIFA.
The decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize has also raised questions about Infantino's willingness to take risks and challenge conventional wisdom. Like his predecessors, he has shown himself to be a master of navigating complex politics and manipulating public opinion.
As the 2026 World Cup draw approaches, soccer fans around the world will be watching with bated breath to see how Infantino handles the next chapter in his tenure as FIFA president. One thing is certain - it promises to be an eventful ride full of twists and turns that will test Infantino's leadership skills to the limit.
The award came during the 2026 World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, where Infantino announced that Trump had been chosen for the honor. Infantino, who has become a close ally of Trump's, praised the US president for his efforts to broker a ceasefire in Gaza and said he thought Trump "definitely deserved" the award.
Trump was handed a gold trophy and a medal by Infantino, which he accepted with great fanfare, saying that winning the prize was one of the greatest honors of his life. The move has been widely ridiculed, with many questioning why Infantino would give such an honor to Trump given his administration's record on issues like immigration and human rights.
The decision has also raised eyebrows about Infantino's leadership style and motives. Like his predecessors Havelange and Blatter, Infantino has come under criticism for his handling of controversies and allegations of corruption within FIFA. However, it remains to be seen whether the award will have any lasting impact or serve as a distraction from the ongoing issues facing the organization.
The controversy surrounding the award comes at a time when soccer fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the 2026 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico, and Canada. While many U.S. soccer fans were initially excited about the prospect of hosting the tournament, concerns have grown in recent months about the tournament's dynamic ticket pricing and teams being forced to play midday matches in the heat.
In a bizarre twist, Infantino has been accused of using his influence to cut Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo's suspension from two to zero games, allowing him to participate in the World Cup without penalty. The move was seen as a principle that should not be accepted by Blatter, who claimed it undermined disciplinary decisions made by FIFA.
The decision to award Trump the FIFA Peace Prize has also raised questions about Infantino's willingness to take risks and challenge conventional wisdom. Like his predecessors, he has shown himself to be a master of navigating complex politics and manipulating public opinion.
As the 2026 World Cup draw approaches, soccer fans around the world will be watching with bated breath to see how Infantino handles the next chapter in his tenure as FIFA president. One thing is certain - it promises to be an eventful ride full of twists and turns that will test Infantino's leadership skills to the limit.
I'm shocked by this whole thing... awarding Trump a peace prize? It just doesn't add up, you know? 
Infantino's trying to distract us from the real issues with FIFA and its corruption problems. And what about all the controversy surrounding his leadership style? 
It seems like he's more interested in making friends with Trump than actually doing what's best for soccer.
It's like Infantino wants to create a circus around FIFA and make it look like it's not being run properly. Not cool, man 
. I'm definitely keeping an eye on how this plays out...
I gotta say, the whole Gianni Infantino awarding Donald Trump the FIFA Peace Prize thing has got me thinking... what if we're all being too harsh on Trump? Like, he does have a reputation for being straight-shooter and getting stuff done, right? And let's be real, the guy did try to broker a ceasefire in Gaza (even if it didn't exactly work out as planned). I mean, some people might say that's not enough, but what do we know about Trump's qualifications for this award besides his ego? Maybe we should be giving him more credit than we are. I'm not saying he's the next Nelson Mandela or anything 
, but I think we should at least keep an open mind on this one.
anyway back to the 2026 world cup - i really dont want to play midday matches in the heat lol 
i mean i get it infantino wants to be friends with trump but come on man, that guy has got like 5 different versions of truth and he's gonna be the voice of peace in soccer? 
. On one hand, I get why Infantino might wanna give him the award - it's all about politics and trying to keep everyone happy, right? But on the other hand, Trump's record on human rights and immigration is pretty sketchy at best... 
. I mean, have you seen the conditions people are living in in Gaza? It's heartbreaking... and Trump's not exactly known for his compassion on these issues 
.
, I mean what is going on with Gianni Infantino? Giving Trump the FIFA Peace Prize like he's some kind of hero? The US President has been making waves for all the wrong reasons and still managing to get an award from a major sports organization. It just feels so out of touch. I mean, the guy's got a history of stirring up controversy and now they're rewarding him for it? Give me a break 
.