Overview
- FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented President Donald Trump with a bespoke trophy and medal during a 90‑minute entertainment segment before the group draw in Washington, where Trump placed the medal on himself.
- Infantino praised Trump from the stage and said the president could count on his support and that of the football community, elevating a political figure at a sporting ceremony.
- Human Rights Watch said it received no answers on nomination rules or a jury for the new prize, and the ACLU warned the federation risked becoming a platform for authoritarianism.
- Reporting indicates the prize was created without formal FIFA Council approval, drawing media condemnation for politicization and for a show tailored to Trump with celebrity performances.
- Reactions split the sport: Germany’s DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and coach Julian Nagelsmann avoided sharp criticism and cited Trump’s role in ending the Gaza conflict, while other commentators and outlets ridiculed the award and questioned FIFA governance.