On Friday, December 5, 2025, the world of international football and global politics collided in a spectacle that left many observers scratching their heads—and plenty more openly laughing or cringing. During the 2026 World Cup draw ceremony at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded former U.S. President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize, a newly minted honor that has since sparked controversy, mockery, and debate across the globe.
The ceremony itself was already drawing attention for its length and spectacle, but few anticipated the moment when Infantino called Trump to the stage. The FIFA chief praised Trump, declaring the award was presented "in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world." As reported by AzerNEWS, a video montage shown before Trump’s appearance described him as "a dynamic leader who has engaged in diplomatic efforts that created opportunities for dialogue, de-escalation and stability, and who has championed the unifying power of football on the world stage."
Trump, never one to let a spotlight go unclaimed, took the stage to accept the gold medal and trophy—an object that, as Rolling Stone US and Times XP both noted, some online have joked resembles the World Cup trophy being dragged into hell by Trump’s gnarled hands. The president, appearing somewhat awkward as he placed the medal over his own neck, called the honor "one of the great honours" of his life. He quickly shifted focus to the upcoming World Cup’s ticket sales, stating, "the numbers are beyond any numbers," and assuring the audience that sales were progressing well.
But the fanfare in the auditorium was not matched by the reaction outside its walls. The announcement and presentation of the FIFA Peace Prize to Trump, especially so soon after he failed to secure the Nobel Peace Prize—this year awarded to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado—was met with a wave of ridicule and skepticism. According to HuffPost, Trump even claimed that Machado called him after her win to say she accepted the Nobel in his honor, insisting he was the one who "really deserved it." There is, however, no independent confirmation of this claim.
Online, the backlash was swift and biting. The Republicans Against Trump account posted, "In one of the most pathetic and humiliating moments in history, Trump just received the new inaugural FIFA Peace Prize. They literally invented a 'peace prize' to keep him happy after he didn't receive the actual Nobel Peace Prize. Beyond parody." Former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, now a Democrat, piled on: "Never, ever, ever, ever in the entire history of humanity has one human being's ego needed to be stroked so much. It's so f****** pathetic. And shame, shame, shame on all the ego strokers."
Others found the moment simply embarrassing. "Wtf is a FIFA peace prize? That's like being an NFL laureate in physics," one social media user quipped. Political commentator Adam Schwarz remarked on the awkwardness of Trump having to put on his own medal, calling the ceremony "humiliating." On CNN, commentator Adam Mockler didn’t mince words: "It's not a good look for the US, it's honestly humiliating that other countries are treating our President like a child, like a baby. It's like if I created the Mockler Peace Prize and I gave it to Adam Mockler right away. Our President is an actual child and other countries are treating him like a child while giving him gifts to placate him for policy. This should scare everybody who cares about the constitution and FIFA is just one piece of the pie."
Even Saturday Night Live couldn’t resist the opportunity to lampoon the event. On the December 7, 2025 episode, Weekend Update co-anchor Colin Jost deadpanned, "Trump has not yet won the Nobel Peace Prize, but he did win the equally prestigious soccer peace prize." Jost continued, "FIFA actually invented a fake peace prize in Trump’s honor, and that’s why the trophy shows Trump’s gnarled hands dragging Earth into hell." The segment also poked fun at Trump’s recent MRI, with Jost joking, "He just needs a little more time to write 'of genius' after the word 'stroke.'"
The skepticism extended beyond partisan circles. Democrat Henry Sisson called the award "so god damn embarrassing for everyone involved." YouTuber Keith Edwards and others highlighted the awkwardness of Trump donning his own medal, with Edwards posting an image of the moment and the caption: "The concept of putting a medal on yourself." Many questioned the legitimacy of FIFA positioning itself as an arbiter of global peace, with one observer noting, "it cannot be overstated how INSANE it is that FIFA have anointed themselves as the arbiters of PEACE to give out this made up peace award to Trump."
FIFA’s decision to honor Trump is particularly notable given the organization’s own history and the timing of the award. As HuffPost reported, Infantino and Trump have long enjoyed a close relationship. In July 2025, Infantino even let Trump keep the Club World Cup’s 24-karat gold-plated trophy, forcing FIFA to provide a replica to the actual winning team. Critics argue that this pattern of favoritism undermines both FIFA’s credibility and the seriousness of the new prize.
Trump’s own claims about his peace-making record have also come under scrutiny. During the day of the award, he repeated his assertion that he had settled "eight wars," a statement widely regarded as misleading. The controversy was further inflamed by the fact that Trump’s administration remains under investigation for a September 2025 attack on alleged drug smugglers, an incident being examined as a potential war crime—hardly the backdrop one expects for a peace prize ceremony.
For many, the entire episode was emblematic of a political and sporting world increasingly driven by spectacle and self-promotion. As one commentator joked, "Gonna be so funny when FIFA has to find someone else to give their made up Peace Prize to next year." Another quipped, "Fantastic news for Wolves, they're no longer the most embarrassing farce that football fans have witnessed this season."
Still, for Trump and his supporters, the award was another moment of public recognition, however contested. In his acceptance speech, Trump described the FIFA Peace Prize as "one of the great honours" of his life. Whether the rest of the world agrees—or ever takes the prize seriously—remains to be seen. But as the countdown to the 2026 World Cup in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico continues, the legacy of this peculiar peace prize will undoubtedly linger, a symbol of the blurred lines between politics, sports, and the never-ending quest for the spotlight.
