Trump & Infantino: World Cup Peace Prize 🏆🤯

World News

The draw for the 2026 World Cup is scheduled for December 5th, and former US President Donald Trump will be present to receive FIFA’s new peace prize. Questions remain, however, regarding the extent of the relationship between Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Trump recently described Infantino as a “close friend,” a connection evidenced by a recent photograph alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo subsequently received a part-suspended ban following a highly unusual red card during World Cup qualifying. Infantino has stated that Trump’s “incredible energy” is something he admires, noting the former president’s directness and ability to act decisively. He added that Trump has been “very, very helpful in everything we do for the World Cup.” As the ringmaster for the draw, Infantino will be under considerable scrutiny, and Trump’s influence continues to be a notable factor in the lead-up to the event.

“Dare to say,” Sylvia Schenk remarked, “given that the United States will host the majority of matches in the 2026 tournament, alongside a few games in Canada and Mexico, a closer working relationship between the two men is entirely normal.” Schenk, a former Olympic runner and sports volunteer for Transparency International, also served as a member of FIFA’s independent Human Rights Advisory Board and currently acts as an arbitrator at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). She explained that the dynamic is primarily driven by circumstance. “It’s all about the situation,” Schenk stated. “If the World Cup weren’t happening in the US, Donald Trump wouldn’t be concerned about Gianni Infantino, and vice-versa. Infantino requires a successful tournament in 2026, and for that, he needs a productive partnership with Trump.” Schenk noted that cultivating a balanced and stable relationship with Trump has proven exceptionally challenging for most world leaders. However, she believes both men share similar characteristics, describing them as “vain” and “both wanting to be flattered, both possessing a very large ego.” Schenk observed a diminishing focus on human rights issues as Infantino’s tenure at FIFA has progressed, while the organization has consistently emphasized political neutrality, aiming to prevent interference and uphold a specific standard of human rights within its affiliated associations, and also banning overtly political actions.

Gestures from players or coaches were included, and though FIFA President Infantino was required to maintain a relationship with Donald Trump, his attendance at the Israel-Hamas ceasefire talks alongside the US president represented the latest in a series of high-profile political appearances that have drawn scrutiny. Similarly, Infantino’s decision to introduce a FIFA Peace Prize, scheduled to be awarded on Friday during the draw just a mile from the White House, has raised questions. The recipient is currently unconfirmed, but speculation suggests it may be bestowed upon Donald Trump, who previously lost the Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition activist Maria Corina Machado only a few weeks prior to FIFA’s launch of the prize. “The question is whether Infantino is doing too much, and I think a Peace Prize would be far too much,” stated Schenk. Trump’s recent policy decisions and statements are expected to have a significant impact on the tournament. Notably, the Iranian soccer federation has announced it will not be sending any delegates to the draw due to a lack of visa guarantees, a decision made given Iran's inclusion on Trump’s travel ban list, alongside fellow qualifier Haiti. Exceptions are being made for athletes and some support staff, but not all, meaning fans from these nations will be unable to travel to the United States. Infantino’s strategic balancing act—following a period of relative quiet in 2025 when the last time the FIFA president was present in the national team’s dressing room was the 2025 AFC (Asian Football Confederation) final against Uzbekistan, when he announced to the team—has become increasingly complex.

Iranian players had been assured that the Iranian convoy would maintain its presence throughout the entirety of the national team’s participation in the World Cup, from the draw ceremony until the final day, including all associated workshops, according to federation spokesperson Amir Mehdi Alavi, who spoke to Iranian outlet Tarafdari. Iran secured qualification for the World Cup in February, although their fans remain unable to travel to matches in the United States. These ongoing disputes present a significant challenge to FIFA President Infantino’s delicate balancing act with President Trump, particularly given Trump’s repeated threats earlier in November to relocate matches away from cities controlled by Democrats. As Trump stated, “If we think there’s going to be a sign of any trouble, I would ask [Infantino] to move that to a different city.” Schenk noted that such political volatility could compel Infantino to confront Trump, though no firm guarantees exist. “I think in the end he probably has to,” Schenk stated. “But if Trump one day says — in four weeks, in February or whenever — ‘We will move games from Los Angeles to whatever other city’ it will be very, very difficult for FIFA to accept the United States government’s risk analysis, particularly considering the potential for disruption, even more severely in the six months leading up to the opener in Mexico City on June 11. The International Olympic Committee will likely encounter similar challenges when the Games arrive in Los Angeles in 2028.