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FIFA launches annual Peace Prize with first to be awarded at World Cup draw in Washington
FIFA has announced the launch of a new annual honour, the FIFA Peace Prize Football Unites the World, which will be presented for the first time during the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington, DC, next month.
According to a statement from world football’s governing body on Wednesday, the award aims to “reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the new prize reflects football’s power to bridge divides in a troubled world.
“In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” Infantino said.
“Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World will recognise the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.”
Which two nations do you want to see face off at FIFA World Cup 26? 💭
The Final Draw takes place on Friday, 5 December at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. 🏆#WeAre26 pic.twitter.com/mthhURpAQn
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 5, 2025
The inaugural presentation will take place on December 5 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, where 48 teams will learn their group stage opponents for the expanded World Cup.
The announcement also comes after U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed in August that Washington would host the draw.
During a meeting with Infantino, Trump was handed the World Cup trophy, to which Infantino remarked, “We are uniting the world, Mr President, uniting the world, here in America.”
Trump, who has been lobbying for a Nobel Peace Prize, recently criticised the committee’s decision to award this year’s prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the first to feature 48 teams, will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, spanning a record 104 matches across 16 host cities.