Is FIFA set to abandon its peace prize after awarding it to Donald Trump?

The FIFA Peace Prize, introduced just over a year ago, may be on its way out, which would leave former U.S. President Donald Trump as its sole recipient. The award was presented by FIFA president Gianni Infantino at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., just months before the 2026 World Cup draw, but a growing number of council members are now questioning its legitimacy and have called for its removal.

The prize was unveiled on November 5, 2025, as an annual “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World,” intended to honor individuals who have taken “exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.” A month later, Trump became the inaugural laureate, a decision that drew criticism because he had not secured the Nobel Peace Prize despite an aggressive campaign supported by other world leaders. Trump thanked FIFA, calling the award “one of the great honours of my life,” while Infantino praised him as a potential Nobel laureate for his role in brokering a cease‑fire in the Gaza conflict.

Critics noted the timing of the award, which came less than a day after the Trump administration carried out a deadly air strike in the Caribbean. Two months after the ceremony, the United States and Israel launched a conflict with Iran, targeting the Iranian Supreme Leader and several nuclear sites. Trump has recently said he will not pursue further attacks on Iran before the U.S. mid‑term elections on November 3.

During a FIFA Council meeting in Zurich, several member associations called for the prize to be discontinued, and others suggested it should no longer be given to politicians. The 22‑member Football Social Responsibility Committee has been tasked with reviewing the award’s merits and is expected to present a recommendation before the next council meeting in Doha on December 16. FIFA vice‑president Debbie Hewitt, who also leads the English Football Association, said the committee will examine how the prize was created, who decided to award it, and whether it should be abolished or reformed.

FIFA has responded by referring to Infantino’s statement that the Football Social Responsibility Committee will analyse the issue and make a decision at the next council meeting. Opposition to the prize has come from multiple quarters. In October, the Norwegian Football Association filed formal complaints with FIFA committees, arguing that the award falls outside the organization’s mandate and risks politicising the sport. Its president, Lise Klaveness, said the prize should be scrapped because “we have a Nobel institute that does that job independently already.” Human‑rights group FairSquare also lodged a complaint with FIFA’s Ethics Committee, accusing Infantino of breaching his duty of neutrality by supporting Trump.

The controversy extends beyond football federations. Australian midfielder Jackson Irvine warned that FIFA’s credibility as a force for good is being eroded, describing the peace prize as a “mockery” of the organization’s own human‑rights charter. The debate continues as FIFA weighs whether to keep the award or eliminate it entirely.