By: Arthur Popowitz- Jewish Voice News

In Washington on Friday, President Donald Trump accepted an honor he has coveted—albeit not the one he most desired. As USA Today reported, Trump was named the inaugural recipient of the newly created FIFA Peace Prize, bestowed during the World Cup draw ceremonies at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. While Trump has long insisted he deserved the Nobel Peace Prize for what he calls “conflict-ending achievements,” he instead found himself receiving a freshly invented accolade from world soccer’s governing body.

Still, Trump embraced the moment with characteristic flourish. “This is truly one of the great honors of my life,” he told the audience, holding the engraved trophy as FIFA President Gianni Infantino looked on approvingly. According to USA Today, Infantino personally presented Trump with the award, accompanying it with a certificate and ceremonial medal—an unmistakable gesture of esteem from a sporting institution that has increasingly intertwined itself with global politics.

Infantino’s praise was effusive. “You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action,” he proclaimed. “For what you have obtained—in your way—but you obtained it in an incredible way.” The remark, USA Today noted, was a thinly veiled nod to Trump’s unconventional diplomatic methods, which over four years produced a patchwork of contentious, controversial, and occasionally groundbreaking foreign policy developments, many of them centered in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

The political symbolism of the FIFA honor appears unmistakable when viewed against recent tensions. As USA Today pointed out, the award was created just weeks after the Norwegian Nobel Committee once again passed over Trump for its revered peace prize, despite his vocal claims that his administration achieved historic breakthroughs. Trump had repeatedly cited the Abraham Accords, a series of normalization agreements between Israel and multiple Arab states, as evidence that he was overdue for international recognition. “I ended conflicts that nobody thought could be ended,” he asserted earlier this week, reiterating a theme that has become increasingly central to his post-presidency identity.

With FIFA stepping in to create its own global peace award—one for which Trump was widely viewed as the presumptive honoree since its announcement last month—the former president now has a symbolic victory he can point to as validation. Whether it carries the same weight as a Nobel Prize is another matter, but as *USA Today* noted, Trump seemed entirely content to embrace the moment.

The award ceremony also underscores the deepening personal rapport between Trump and Infantino, who has attended multiple Trump-hosted events throughout the year. USA Today documented at least six public appearances the two men have shared—from Trump’s inauguration, to Oval Office announcements, to international peace-agreement signings. Infantino even sat in the front row when Trump presided over the signing of a peace accord between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo on the eve of the World Cup draw, another image of diplomatic longevity that Trump’s allies eagerly highlight.

Their relationship extends beyond formal diplomacy. As USA Today reported, Infantino joined Trump at the Club World Cup final this summer, where Trump—standing onstage amid jubilant players—told the crowd that FIFA had gifted him the original trophy. The organization quietly produced a new one before kickoff. The moment raised eyebrows, but it offered further evidence of the unusually close alignment between Trump and FIFA’s leadership.

That alliance again came into sharp focus during the Gaza ceasefire signing ceremony Trump hosted in Egypt this past October. Infantino attended and delivered a glowing tribute: “President Trump has broken down barriers and built bridges,” he declared. “This is what we want from a leader—a leader who cares about the people.” His comments, widely cited by*USA Today, framed Trump not merely as a former head of state but as a symbolic figure capable of shaping international narratives, particularly around peace negotiations.

What makes this latest development significant is the timing. The World Cup draw marks the beginning of the international march toward the 2026 tournament, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico—a geopolitical landscape transformed in no small part by the very conflicts and diplomatic maneuvers Trump often references when defending his legacy. His presence at the Kennedy Center ceremony—standing beside the man preparing to preside over what will be the largest global sporting event in history—reinforced his ongoing relevance to both international sports diplomacy and national politics.

Meanwhile, Trump used the spotlight to reiterate his admiration for Infantino. “You’ve done a fantastic job. A great leader in sports,” he said from the stage after spotting the FIFA president in the audience. The praise echoed the broader theme of Trump’s remarks: a celebration of strong leadership, global cooperation, and the symbolic power of sport to shape public perception.

Yet the ceremony was not free of controversy. As USA Today noted, Trump has drawn criticism for his comments suggesting that Russian President Vladimir Putin—currently barred from FIFA competitions due to the invasion of Ukraine—could potentially attend the World Cup in 2026. While Infantino declined to explicitly endorse or reject the idea during their August meeting in the Oval Office, the moment underscored how diplomatic entanglements continue to cloud major sporting events, particularly when powerful political figures like Trump are involved.

What remains unmistakable is that FIFA’s decision to inaugurate the Peace Prize with Trump as its first honoree signals a shift in how major sports organizations are presenting themselves on the world stage. No longer content to simply manage tournaments, FIFA appears to be positioning itself as a global peace broker—an institution capable of conferring legitimacy, shaping narratives, and engaging directly with political actors. Whether this marks a new era of sports-driven diplomacy or merely a symbolic gesture directed at a politically influential figure remains to be seen.

For Trump, however, the trophy is more than symbolic. As USA Today emphasized, it allows him to frame his foreign policy tenure as one defined by strategic breakthroughs and peace-oriented leadership—a narrative he has worked diligently to promote. With the Nobel Prize remaining elusive, the FIFA recognition offers a compelling alternative narrative for supporters eager to see his international actions acknowledged.

“Together,” Infantino said from the Kennedy Center stage, “we can help you make peace and make the world prosper.” The sentiment, broadcast around the world, not only recast Trump as a global statesman but highlighted the increasingly blurry line between global sports and global politics.

Whether the award becomes a meaningful fixture or a historical curiosity, the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize has already achieved one outcome: it elevated Trump, once again, to center stage in a global discussion that extends far beyond the boundaries of sport.