U.S. President Donald Trump receives the FIFA Peace Prize from FIFA President in the course of the draw for the 2026 FIFA Soccer World Cup happening within the U.S., Canada and Mexico, on the Kennedy Heart, in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2025.
Stephanie Scarbrough | Afp | Getty Photographs
U.S. President Donald Trump stated he was not attending the draw for the 2026 World Cup to obtain a prize, however he bought one anyway.
Trump, who has campaigned aggressively this yr for a Nobel Peace Prize, was given FIFA’s inaugural peace prize for his efforts to advertise dialogue and de-escalation in a few of the world’s largest hotspots.
The previous TV actuality present host dominated the scene at Washington’s Kennedy Heart on Friday, inserting himself squarely on the heart of one of many largest occasions within the sporting world in a glitzy, celebrity-studded affair that bore the unmistakable stamp of the president.
The US, together with Canada and Mexico, will host the soccer match subsequent yr. The prime minister of Canada, Mark Carney, and the president of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaum, have been there, too, however it was Trump’s present from begin to end.
In a nod to Trump’s love of spectacle, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who served as grasp of ceremonies, had the three leaders stand behind brightly coloured podiums – game-show model – to attract their groups. After the draw, all of them posed for a selfie with Infantino.
“This will likely be distinctive, this will likely be stellar, this will likely be spectacular,” Infantino stated on the outset of the ceremony, referring to subsequent yr’s video games. However he might even have been speaking in regards to the Kennedy Heart occasion itself, which was positioned in Washington at Trump’s urging.
Final month, FIFA introduced {that a} new annual award known as the FIFA Peace Prize can be offered on the draw to “reward people who’ve taken distinctive and extraordinary actions for peace.”
A video previous to the presentation celebrated Trump for resolving the conflict in Gaza and making an attempt to finish Russia’s conflict in Ukraine. The trophy, a gold-plated globe carried by upraised arms, was significantly bigger than the Nobel, which is only a easy medal. Trump was given a medal as nicely and donned it as Infantino lauded him. The president deserved the award for “selling peace and unity world wide,” he stated.
“That is actually one of many nice honors of my life – and past,” Trump stated. He took a second to congratulate himself. The US, he stated, was “not doing too nicely” earlier than he took workplace, however now “we are the hottest nation wherever on this planet.”
Earlier, Trump advised reporters he didn’t care in regards to the prize, however famous that he had “settled eight wars” in his 10 months in workplace.
“I do not want prizes. I want to save lots of lives,” Trump stated. “I saved hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of lives, and that is actually what I need to do.”
U.S. President Donald Trump, Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico, and Mark Carney, Prime Minister of Canada, pose for a selfie with Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, in the course of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Official Draw.
Hector Vivas – Fifa | Fifa | Getty Photographs
The declare that Trump has ended eight wars this yr is broadly disputed. A lot work stays earlier than a lot of the conflicts the president claims to have ended, together with the Israel-Hamas battle, can really be thought of resolved.
Trump acquired the award the identical week his administration froze immigration functions from 19 international locations after final week’s capturing of two Nationwide Guard members in Washington. It additionally got here days after the president demeaned Somali immigrants in america as “rubbish” — sparking an outcry each at residence and overseas.
Trump has incessantly made the trimmings of the presidency part of main sporting and cultural occasions this yr. He attended the Tremendous Bowl in February, to a mixture of cheers and boos from the gang, and on Sunday he plans to attend the Kennedy Heart Honors, which he eschewed throughout his first time period.
The FIFA occasion — the place 48 groups realized their group stage opponents — opened with Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli singing “Nessun Dorma,” a favourite of Trump’s and a staple at his marketing campaign rallies.
Later, British pop star Robbie Williams and American Broadway chanteuse Nicole Scherzinger sang FIFA’s 2026 World Cup anthem with highlights from previous tournaments taking part in on a big video display behind them.
American sports activities stars Tom Brady, Shaquille O’Neal and Aaron Decide – none of them soccer gamers – additionally took half. Additionally readily available was Canadian hockey nice Wayne Gretzky.
The World Cup will likely be held from June 11-July 19, 2026, with a document 104 matches in 16 host cities.
The spectacle ended with a stay efficiency of the music “YMCA” by the Village Folks, the crowning contact for yet one more occasion the president made his personal.
