Overview
- At Washington’s Kennedy Center during the 2026 World Cup group draw, Gianni Infantino presented the inaugural FIFA “Friedenspreis” to President Donald Trump, who then placed the medal on himself.
- Multiple outlets report the award was created by Infantino without formal approval from the FIFA Council, prompting questions over legitimacy and governance.
- Human Rights Watch condemned the lack of a transparent selection process, and the ACLU said FIFA risks turning itself into a platform for authoritarianism.
- Event coverage described an entertainment-heavy show tailored to Trump that overshadowed the sporting draw and limited roles for the Canadian and Mexican leaders.
- Response inside the game was split, with Germany’s DFB president Bernd Neuendorf and coach Julian Nagelsmann downplaying criticism as other European and FIFA figures expressed unease.