FIFA President Gianni Infantino presents new honour to Trump for “extraordinary actions for peace” as leaders of the U.S., Mexico and Canada join ceremonial draw.
Dateline: Washington, D.C. — United States President Donald Trump received the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize on Friday, moments before the official draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.
The award, introduced this year by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, is designated for an individual who has “taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace” and “united people across the world.” Trump’s selection had been widely expected, as he has appeared publicly with Infantino multiple times in recent months and arrived at the ceremony alongside him.
During the event in Washington, Trump was presented with a large golden trophy, a medal, and a certificate before delivering a speech to guests and global media.
Trump Claims Peace Achievements in Acceptance Speech
In his remarks, Trump asserted that his diplomatic interventions had “saved tens of millions of lives” and prevented conflicts from escalating.
“This is truly one of the great honours of my life,” he said, before turning his attention to the upcoming 2026 World Cup.
Trump claimed the tournament has already broken ticket sales records, praising Infantino’s leadership: “Gianni has done an incredible job. It is a nice tribute to you and the game of football — or as we call it, soccer. It is beyond the numbers we thought were possible.”
He added, “The world is a safer place now. The USA was not doing well a year ago; now we are the hottest country in the world right now.”
North American Leaders Join Stage for Ceremonial Draw
Following his speech, Trump returned to the stage with Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney for the ceremonial opening of the World Cup draw. Each leader drew the ball representing their own nation, though group assignments had been determined beforehand.
Afterwards, the trio posed for a selfie taken by Infantino — a moment that quickly became one of the ceremony’s highlights.
Mexico: Group A (set to play the tournament’s opening match)
Canada: Group B
United States: Group D
A Lighthearted Moment on “Football vs. Soccer”
Trump also repeated his comments about record ticket sales before joking about the naming confusion between American football and the sport known globally as football.
“We have to find another name for the NFL,” he quipped. “This is football — we call it soccer here in the USA, but it is really football. It doesn’t make sense that we call it soccer.”
Looking Ahead to 2026
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest edition in history, will take place from June 11 to July 19 across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Friday’s award ceremony and draw marked the first major global event leading into the tournament.
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