Photo: Getty Images
President Donald Trump was the winner of the inaugural 'FIFA Peace Prize' awarded by soccer's governing organization during its World Cup draw in Washington on Friday (December 5), USA TODAY reports.
Trump has long been presumed to be the recipient of the award since FIFA announced its creation one month ago, claiming it would "reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace," weeks after the president was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize by the Norwegian Nobel Committee in October. FIFA President Gianni Infantino personally handed the new award to Trump during the World Cup draw at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday.
Trump and Infantino have been spotted together on several occasions ahead of the United States, Mexico and Canada joint hosting the 2026 FIFA World Cup next summer, which included Infantino attending Trump's inauguration in January and making multiple visits to Washington since. Infantino also sat in the front row during a peace agreement signing between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday (December 4).
"You’ve done a fantastic job. A great leader in sports," Trump said of Infantino after spotting him in the crowd during the peace agreement via USA TODAY.
Trump also sat in a box with Infantino during the Club World Cup final this past summer and joined on stage during Chelsea F.C.'s trophy celebration, having later claimed that he was gifted the tournament's original trophy, though FIFA had made a new one before the conclusion of the championship.
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY AND WILL BE UPDATED.