During the World Cup draw in the American capital on Friday, US President Donald Trump received the first-ever 2025 FIFA Peace Prize. FIFA’s leadership credited him with helping broker several major peace agreements in recent years and praised him for what they described as significant efforts to encourage global unity.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented Trump with the medal and certificate on stage. As he handed over the award, Infantino said, “This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” making it clear the organization believed Trump’s actions had left a meaningful impact.
Infantino read from the official citation, which explained that the new annual award is meant to honor one individual each year who demonstrates an enduring dedication to peace and cooperation. According to the certificate, FIFA chose Trump “in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world,” dated Friday, December 5, 2025.
Infantino went on to recall several agreements he said he had witnessed firsthand. He spoke about the signing of the Abraham Accords, a recent peace framework focused on Gaza that was discussed in Sharm el Sheikh, and diplomatic progress reached in Kuala Lumpur between Cambodia and Thailand. He also referenced what he called the Washington peace agreement involving Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“This is the type of leadership we want to see,” Infantino said. “You truly deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for what you have done.”
Trump Calls FIFA Award One of His Greatest Honors
After stepping up to accept the honor, Trump said the recognition ranked as “one of the great honors of my life.” He argued that the peace efforts mentioned by FIFA helped prevent large-scale loss of life. He pointed to conflict zones such as the Congo, saying the region had already endured millions of deaths and could have faced millions more without intervention.
He added that rising tensions between India and Pakistan, along with several other potential conflicts, were resolved or eased through diplomatic work during his tenure. “We saved millions and millions of lives,” Trump said.
The President also praised Infantino’s leadership of global football and celebrated what he described as unprecedented excitement ahead of the 2026 World Cup. He noted that ticket demand had reached levels no one expected. He thanked his family, including former First Lady Melania Trump, and emphasized the strong collaboration with Canada and Mexico, the co-host nations for the upcoming tournament.
Trump ended his remarks by saying, “The world is a safer place now.”
Before the ceremony, Trump was asked how receiving a peace prize lined up with his earlier statements about being prepared to “strike Venezuela.” He replied that resolving conflicts was what mattered most. “When I settled eight wars, I can tell you I did settle eight wars, a ninth coming, which nobody has ever done before. I want to save lives. I do not need prizes. I need to save lives.”
