Sports
FIFA Make Decision Over Peace Award After Donald Trump Controversy
FIFA have made a firm decision on their controversial Peace Award after presenting it to Donald Trump ahead of the 2026 World Cup draw in December. The US president has remained central to next summer’s tournament since the United States was named co-host alongside Canada and Mexico – though often for contentious reasons.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to strip hosting rights from cities deemed unsafe by his administration, while planning meetings were used to promote controversial policies, including suggestions that those on the US travel ban list could face difficulties attending the tournament. Despite this, FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised Trump and promised that the “world is welcome in America.”
The award was met largely with confusion, widely viewed as a sycophantic gesture given Trump’s record. Since receiving it, he has ordered airstrikes on Venezuela and the abduction of its dictator, Nicolas Maduro, yet any expectation that the honour would be revoked appears misplaced following a recent update.
Awkward Moment US President Donald Trump ‘Would Have Hated’ During 2026 World Cup Draw
FIFA president Gianni Infantino helped produce one of the most awkward medal ceremonies in football history as Trump won the first FIFA Peace Prize.
FIFA Maintain Stance on Donald Trump’s Peace Prize Award Win
Gianni Infantino has long been seen as the ultimate yes-man to Trump, and make no mistake – the hastily assembled Peace Award appears to have been created largely to flatter the US president. That helps explain why, despite growing calls for FIFA to rethink its position, a Daily Mail report has revealed there are no plans to scrap the award handed to America’s political figurehead.
The report also revealed that FIFA intend to present the honour to a second recipient later in 2026, meaning the award is here to stay and will become an annual fixture, like any other in the modern game. That raises the question of whether Trump could claim it for a second year, or if a new name will be added to the roll of honour.
At first glance, there are not many obvious candidates for such a niche accolade. However, Planet Football floated a handful of alternative suggestions, including Eric Cantona – whose socialist views sit at the opposite end of the political spectrum – while jokingly mentioning football media personality Thogden, Cristiano Ronaldo and even Infantino himself, as they attempted to get inside the curious mind of FIFA’s powerbroker.
FIFA Urged To Take Action Against USA
As reported by the Daily Star, over 20 MPs have demanded the United States be kicked out of the World Cup after Donald Trump’s alleged violations of international law. The cross-party group has called on FIFA to consider booting the USA over its actions in Venezuela and the President’s “veiled and overt threats” towards Colombia, Cuba and Denmark.
Relations have soured further after the White House hinted it might try to seize control of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark. Trump also warned Colombian President Gustavo Petro to “watch his a***”, implying he could face the same fate as Maduro. The motion contends that Trump’s actions “undermine the rules-based international order” and that sporting events “should not be used to legitimise or normalise violations of international law by powerful states”.
The UK government has declared it is the White House’s responsibility to provide the legal justification for the operation in Venezuela, but has declared that it stands with Denmark regarding any potential attempts to annex its land.
