FIFA awards first ‘Peace Prize’ to Trump after missing out on Nobel Prize
FIFA has awarded President Donald Trump its first Peace Prize.
President Donald Trump better enjoy the FIFA Peace Prize, because it’s the only award he’ll ever win.
To no one’s surprise, President Trump won FIFA’s trumped-up, token award that should never be taken seriously, created for the sole purpose of pumping the president’s considerable ego. He received a gaudy golden trophy—good enough for the Oval Office!—and he immediately presented him with a medal and a certificate to commemorate this embarrassing, nay, momentous event.
“(This) honors his extraordinary and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, DC.
What kind of action does it take? The murder of a poor fisherman, which is probably illegal and may even be a war crime? A racist slur against Somalis? Harassment and abuse of brown-skinned people for the purpose of enforcing this vision of a racially pure America while promoting “reverse immigration”? Eliminating life-saving aid for people in need?
Shall we continue?
Trump is the most divisive person on the planet, let alone the country he was elected to lead, and his actions and rhetoric have made the entire planet a more ruthless, cruel, and dangerous place. He is a champion of peace only in his heart, and no reputable organization would ever praise him as such.
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Infantino’s damage to FIFA
Soccer’s world governing body has lost what little moral compass it has left under Infantino, who has placated dictators and human rights abusers at the expense of sponsors, the LGBTQ community and even FIFA members. He is only content to further disparage FIFA with his fawning devotion to Trump.
Infantino knows how badly Trump covets the Nobel Peace Prize. In fact, President Trump mentions it at every opportunity, so the whole world does. But Infantino also knows that the tiny state of Cape Verde has a better chance of winning the World Cup in its first appearance than Trump convincing the Nobel committee.
The people who decide on the Nobel Prize are not sycophants like Trump’s cabinet. They are not going to give President Trump credit for some very flimsy fabricated peace deals and agreements that fell apart before the ink was dry. They have no intention of ignoring President Trump’s respect for Vladimir Putin, treating him like the wronged party in the unprovoked war against Ukraine started by the Russian despot.
Nor do the members of the Noble Commission intend to reciprocate President Trump’s efforts to dismantle America’s democratic system, which has been a shining example to the rest of the world for more than 200 years.
noble idea
So here was Infantino, making up a worthless prize to save his best friend’s bruised ego. One month after this year’s Noble laureate was awarded to Venezuelan democratic activist Maria Colina Machado rather than President Trump, FIFA announced its annual Peace Prize. Infantino said on November 5 that the award “recognizes the extraordinary efforts of those who unite people and bring hope to future generations.”
That might have been a great idea. Anything that tries to reduce hatred and division in the world is worth trying, and soccer has enough global influence to bring about change.
But by awarding the first Peace Prize to Trump, Infantino revealed what a travesty the Peace Prize is.
“He claims to have brought peace to countries around the world, but at home and in our region, he is verbally and literally waging war against some of our own people, including by using military force against immigrants,” Human Rights Soccer Alliance president Evan Whitfield said in a statement.
“Trump has also bombed Mexico, a co-host of the World Cup, unfairly invaded neighboring Venezuela, and, ridiculously, threatened to incorporate, or invade, Canada, another co-host of the World Cup, into the United States.”
Well, if you put it that way…
Infantino pleased Trump — “This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” the president said — but it came at the expense of one of FIFA’s biggest events, the World Cup draw. Instead of talking about the greatest fight or discussing the Group of Death, the headlines for Friday’s event were about Trump’s “award” and its ridiculousness, and Infantino’s shameless association.
The Peace Prize may be fake, but the shame that remains for those involved is real.
Follow USA TODAY sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
