Dec. 5, 2025, 3:09 p.m. ET
- FIFA President Gianni Infantino awarded President Donald Trump the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize.
- Trump has long expressed a desire to win the Nobel Peace Prize, which he has not yet received.
- Several world leaders have nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize.
President Donald Trump received a brand new honor: the FIFA Peace Prize.
While attending the 2026 World Cup draw at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 5, FIFA president Gianni Infantino granted the inaugural award, including a trophy, medal and certificate, to Trump.
“We want to unite, that’s what we do here today, that’s what we do at the World Cup, Mr. President,” Infantino said. “And you definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your actions and what you have obtained in your way.”
Trump, who has signaled upcoming U.S. attacks in Venezuela, has touted his peace record and says he has solved eight wars. While he called the FIFA Peace Prize “one of the great honors of my life,” it is no secret he has long wanted another peace prize: to become a Nobel laureate.
Trump has insisted he will never win the Nobel Peace Prize
Trump has long wanted the Nobel Peace Prize, mocking and questioning why former President Barack Obama received the award in his first year in office. Trump has said he is convinced he won’t receive the prize no matter what, but many have made some fanfare around nominating him.
Days before the 2025 award was announced, USA TODAY asked Trump if he thought he would win the award.
“I have no idea … Marco would tell you we settled seven wars. We’re close to settling an eighth,” Trump said. The Hamas-Israel ceasefire went into effect days later. “I don’t think anybody in history settled that many, but perhaps they’ll find a reason not to give it to me.”
Could he win the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize?
The 2025 Nobel Peace Prize was announced Oct. 10, but the deadline for nominees was Jan. 31. The Nobel Committee does not reveal who was nominated for an award until 50 years later. Nominations can be submitted by anyone who meets the requirements, including members of national governments. Several world leaders have said they nominated him, but after the 2025 deadline. That means he could be in consideration for 2026.
On June 20, Pakistan leaders announced they would recommend Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his “decisive diplomatic intervention and pivotal leadership during the recent India-Pakistan crisis.” India did not give the U.S. credit for the ceasefire.
A Republican congressman nominated Trump for the Iran-Israel ceasefire in a June 24 letter, after the U.S. had joined Israel in bombing Iran.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said he nominated Trump for the prize in July. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said he would support Trump winning the prize at the August White House ceremony.
In a letter posted on social media in August, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in the ceasefire with Thailand. The nomination was supported by thousands of Cambodian Buddhist monks who took part in a peace march shortly after.
Who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2025?
The 2025 award went to Venezuelan opposition activist María Corina Machado. She thanked Trump “for his decisive support of our cause!”
But Trump’s team wasn’t happy about it.
“The Nobel Committee proved they place politics over peace,” White House Communications Director Steven Cheung wrote on social media.
There were 338 candidates for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize, according to the organization. Of those, 244 were individuals and 94 were organizations.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, Francesca Chambers, Fernando Cervantes Jr., Riley Beggin, Kathryn Palmer, Melina Khan, Zac Anderson, USA TODAY
Kinsey Crowley is the Trump Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at KCrowley@usatodayco.com. Follow her onX (Twitter),Bluesky andTikTok.
