FIFA Peace Prize 2025: What It Is and Why It Matters
FIFA just created a brand new award called the FIFA Peace Prize. The world soccer organization handed out the first one on December 5, 2025, during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C.
The prize has people talking across the globe. Some praise it as a good idea. Others question why FIFA decided to create it now.
What is the FIFA Peace Prize?
The FIFA Peace Prize recognizes people who work to bring peace to the world. FIFA President Gianni Infantino says the award celebrates individuals who unite people across different countries and cultures.
FIFA calls it the “FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World.” The organization plans to give out this award every year.
Infantino explained why FIFA created this prize. He said the world feels divided right now. People need to see examples of others working hard to end conflicts and bring communities together.
The award represents more than 5 billion soccer fans worldwide. That’s a huge number of people who love the sport.
The First Award Ceremony
FIFA presented the first Peace Prize at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The ceremony happened right after the 2026 World Cup draw.
The World Cup draw is a massive event. About 1 billion people around the world watch it. Teams learn which groups they’ll play in during the tournament.
This year FIFA added something new to the draw. They used the global stage to present their first peace prize.
The 2026 World Cup will take place in the United States, Mexico and Canada. This makes it the first World Cup hosted by three countries at the same time.
Who Gets to Win This Prize?
This is where things get tricky. FIFA has not explained how they choose winners.
The organization didn’t share who nominates people for the prize. They didn’t say who judges the nominations. They didn’t reveal what criteria they use to pick winners.
Human Rights Watch sent FIFA a letter asking for this information. They wanted to know the process behind selecting winners. FIFA did not respond to their questions.
Minky Worden works at Human Rights Watch. She said her organization received no answers from FIFA. This suggests there might not be a formal process at all.
Why People are Concerned
Many groups have raised concerns about the FIFA Peace Prize. Here’s what worries them.
Close Political Ties: Infantino has developed a close relationship with President Donald Trump. The two men call each other friends. Infantino has publicly praised Trump many times.
Before FIFA created its peace prize, Infantino said Trump deserved the Nobel Peace Prize. He posted this opinion on Instagram. The Nobel Committee gave their 2025 prize to María Corina Machado instead. She’s a Venezuelan activist who fights for democracy.
Suspicious Timing: FIFA announced its peace prize in November 2025. This came just weeks after Trump didn’t win the Nobel Peace Prize. Many people think the timing seems planned.
No Transparency: FIFA won’t explain how they choose winners. This lack of openness makes people suspicious about the award’s legitimacy.
Human Rights Questions: Several human rights groups spoke out against the prize. They worry FIFA is putting politics ahead of its values.
The NAACP criticized the idea. Jamal Watkins from the organization called giving Trump a peace prize laughable.
Human Rights Watch pointed out problems too. They noted the award comes at a time when the U.S. government has increased immigration enforcement and deployed the National Guard to cities.
FIFA’s Defense
FIFA has defended creating the peace prize. Bryan Swanson is FIFA’s media director. He responded to criticism from newspapers.
Swanson said only FIFA could get criticized for recognizing people who want world peace. He argued FIFA deserves praise for trying to make the future better.
Infantino echoed this sentiment. He says FIFA wants to use soccer to unite people during difficult times.
The Trump Connection
President Trump and FIFA have grown closer over the past year. Several factors show this relationship.
Trump created a special White House Task Force just for the 2026 World Cup. His daughter Ivanka Trump joined the board of a FIFA education project. This project has a $100 million budget funded by World Cup ticket sales.
Trump also became Board Chair of the Kennedy Center. This is the same venue where FIFA held the World Cup draw and peace prize ceremony.
The relationship benefits both sides. Trump gets to associate himself with the world’s biggest sporting event. FIFA gets support from the U.S. government for hosting the World Cup.
What Makes This Different
FIFA has always promoted soccer as a tool for peace. The organization often talks about how the sport brings people together.
But FIFA never created an official peace prize before. This sudden decision to start one has puzzled many observers.
Some people compare it to other organizations stepping outside their lane. It would be like a physics organization giving out literature prizes. Soccer’s governing body giving peace prizes seems odd to many people.
The Bigger Picture
The 2026 World Cup will be historic. The tournament expands from 32 teams to 48 teams. That means more countries get to participate than ever before.
The tournament will feature 104 matches. Games will take place in 16 cities across three countries. The World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, 2026.
Trump has made the World Cup a priority. He wants it to be a centerpiece of his second term as president. The tournament also coincides with America’s 250th birthday celebration.
What Happens Next
FIFA plans to give out the Peace Prize every year. Whether they address concerns about transparency remains unclear.
The World Cup draw itself went smoothly. Teams now know their groups. Fans can start planning trips to watch matches.
But questions about the Peace Prize won’t disappear quickly. Critics want FIFA to explain how they choose winners. They want to see a fair process that everyone can understand.
Human rights groups will keep watching FIFA closely. They want to make sure the organization lives up to its stated values.
The controversy shows how complicated things get when sports and politics mix. FIFA says it wants to stay neutral. Yet the organization’s actions sometimes suggest otherwise.
Soccer fans around the world love the sport. They want FIFA to focus on making the game better for everyone. Whether the Peace Prize helps or hurts that mission depends on what FIFA does next.
