FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented President Donald Trump with the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., marking the debut of a new annual award recognizing global leaders who advance peace through diplomacy and the unifying spirit of football. Video from the ceremony shows Infantino placing a medal around Trump’s neck, praising his role in promoting stability and brokering historic agreements.

Infantino cited Trump’s leadership in the Abraham Accords and his diplomatic efforts across the Middle East as reasons for the honor, saying the former president had helped save “millions of lives.” The prize, created to highlight individuals whose actions reduce conflict and foster cooperation, represents FIFA’s attempt to position global sport as a platform for peace-building.

Trump acknowledged the award but downplayed personal recognition, emphasizing instead the lives saved through his administration’s diplomatic breakthroughs. He reiterated his longstanding view that real peace requires action, not accolades, and pointed to the eight conflicts he helped settle and the ninth he worked to prevent.

The ceremony underscored a rare intersection of international politics and global sports, elevating Trump as the inaugural figure for FIFA’s new peace-centered initiative. Supporters framed the moment as validation of his foreign policy achievements, while the award set a precedent for future global leaders who may be recognized for contributions to stability, cooperation, and conflict resolution.