Gianni Infantino Issues Statement on Stripping Donald Trump of FIFA Peace Prize

Gianni Infantino has issued a strong statement amid calls for Donald Trump to be stripped of FIFA’s inaugural Peace Prize.

US President Trump was controversially handed the new award during December’s draw for the 2026 World Cup finals. In a statement on their website, FIFA announced Trump had been “recognised for his tireless efforts to promote peace”.

“This is what we want from a leader,” Infantino said while presenting the prize in December. “A leader that cares about the people. We want to live in a safe world, in a safe environment. We want to unite – that’s what we do here today, that’s what we’ll do at the (FIFA) World Cup, Mr President.”

“You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action, for what you have obtained in your way, but you have obtained it in an incredible way. You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community – or ‘soccer’ community – to help you make peace and make the world prosper all over the world.”

The decision to award Trump with the Peace Prize led to increased backlash in January following airstrikes on Venezuela and the abduction of the South American nation’s leader Nicolas Maduro. This was then followed by the deaths of US citizens Renee Nicole Good and Alex Jeffrey Pretti at the hands of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.

Believing a mockery has already been made of FIFA’s Peace Prize, there have been calls for world football’s governing body to scrap the accolade completely. However, it was revealed last month that FIFA are pressing on with their initial plan to hand the award out annually.

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Infantino Responds to Calls to Strip Donald Trump of Peace Prize

During a new interview with Sky’s Yalda Hakim, Infantino was pressed further on the decision to award Trump with the Peace Prize. The FIFA President, who also suggested that Russia’s ban should be lifted, doubled down on the decision, making it clear that Trump will keep his award.

“Objectively, he deserves it,” Infantino said, per The Guardian, while discussing the role Trump played in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Infantino also recently announced that he and Trump will hand out the iconic FIFA World Cup trophy together to the winner of this summer’s showpiece tournament on July 19.

“This trophy will be handed out on the 19th of July to the captain of the team who will win the World Cup,” Infantino said. “I will give it together with the President of the United States, the host country. Nobody can touch this trophy.”