Controversy Over FIFA Peace Prize to Donald Trump Sparks Controversy

At the December World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented the FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump. The award, announced in November without FIFA Council approval, has been criticised as a breach of FIFA’s political-neutrality rules.

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FIFA’s Code of Ethics (Article 15) requires officials to stay politically neutral. The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by United States, Canada and Mexico. Only four of the 16 host cities—Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Vancouver—have published mandatory Host City Human Rights Action Plans, while ICE raids and travel bans on four qualifying nations raise further concerns.

The Guardian

Human-rights organisations, including the Sport and Rights Alliance, call the prize a case of “sportswashing” that hides immigration policies and press-freedom threats. Lise Klaveness, president of the Norwegian Football Federation, called it “outside FIFA’s mandate” and urged abolition. FairSquare lodged a formal ethics complaint alleging four breaches of FIFA’s neutrality statutes. FairSquare’s CEO Nick McGeehan said the complaint “increases pressure on FIFA to follow through.” The SRA demands stronger protections for fans, workers, communities.

The Guardian

FIFA has not issued a comment on the prize or the ethics complaint. The FIFA Ethics Committee has been asked to investigate the alleged breaches. The Norwegian Football Federation will submit a letter supporting the investigation at the upcoming FIFA Congress in Vancouver. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and FIFA declined to comment on ICE-related concerns. The Sport and Rights Alliance urged human-rights safeguards in host cities.

The Guardian

• “We want to see it abolished,” — Lise Klaveness, Norwegian Football Federation

The Guardian

• “We are very concerned that it should be inclusive and safe for everybody regardless of ethnicity, which country you come from, your sexual orientation,” — Lise Klaveness, Norwegian Football Federation

The Guardian

• “This is very encouraging news,” — Nick McGeehan, FairSquare

Sports Illustrated

• “This is very encouraging news,” McGeehan told “It definitely increases the pressure on FIFA to follow through.” — Nick McGeehan, FairSquare

Sports Illustrated

No official response from FIFA or the U.S. government addresses the prize or ICE enforcement at the tournament. Only four host cities have released human-rights action plans, leaving the status of the remaining twelve unclear. The suggestion to replace Iran with Italy remains unverified and has not been adopted by FIFA.

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The dispute tests FIFA’s capacity to enforce neutrality and could affect the credibility of the 2026 World Cup. Ongoing human-rights concerns may influence fan travel, sponsor confidence and the broader view of sport as a political platform.

The Guardian

The FIFA Ethics Committee will review FairSquare’s complaint before the FIFA Congress in Vancouver (April 2026). The Norwegian Football Federation will present its letter at the congress. Human-rights groups will continue monitoring host-city compliance and ICE activity as the tournament approaches in early June.

The Guardian