Jackson Irvine Challenges FIFA’s Peace Prize to Donald Trump

At the World Cup draw in December 2025, FIFA awarded its Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, citing his role in a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. The award, given months before the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico, sparked backlash.

The Guardian

FIFA’s Human Rights Policy, adopted in 2017 for the 2026 tournament, requires protection of expression and prohibition of discrimination. Midfielder Jackson Irvine, a FIFPRO senior advocate with 80 caps and a St Pauli player, led a 15-player protest before Qatar 2022 over migrant-worker and LGBTI+ rights.

Taipei Times

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Trump “objectively deserves it.” White House spokesperson Davis Ingle echoed, calling Trump the most deserving recipient and dismissing critics as suffering from “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Neither has responded to Irvine’s criticism.

The Guardian

Irvine argued the prize “makes a mockery of” FIFA’s human-rights charter and distances elite football from grassroots values. He cited U.S. strikes on Venezuela and Iran and LGBTI+ roll-backs as contradictory to the sport’s inclusion pledge. Norway’s federation and other rights groups have called for the prize’s abolition.

indy100

The dispute heightens scrutiny of FIFA’s armband policy. After seven European captains were barred from wearing rainbow armbands in 2022 and eight FIFA-approved armbands were offered at the 2023 Women’s World Cup, the body has not confirmed whether any symbols will be permitted for 2026, leaving players uncertain about advocacy. The controversy also threatens FIFA’s credibility in applying its human-rights framework during a tense tournament.

Taipei Times

FIFA declined comment on Irvine’s remarks, and the White House offered only the quoted defence. No decision on armband allowances has been announced, creating a guidance gap for athletes.

Taipei Times

• “As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize makes a mockery of what they’re trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world.” — Jackson Irvine, Australian midfielder

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• “Objectively, he deserves it,” — Gianni Infantino, FIFA President

The Guardian

• “There is no one else in the world more deserving of Fifa’s first ever peace prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.” — Davis Ingle, White House spokesperson

The Guardian

• “And on the other side, the opposite, the polarisation has gone further. People really actively dislike players trying to bring politics into sport.” — Jackson Irvine, Australian midfielder

The Guardian

FIFA must decide whether to permit FIFA-approved armbands at the 2026 World Cup, a decision watched by players and rights groups. Calls for the prize’s abolition continue, and proposals for oversight of FIFA’s human-rights commitments are gaining traction.

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