FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his decision to award U.S. President Donald Trump the organisation’s inaugural peace prize and dismissed calls for a boycott of the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA chief Gianni Infantino has defended his controversial decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump, a move that drew widespread criticism after being unveiled at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington, D.C. Critics argued the honour was politically charged and inappropriate for football’s governing body, but Infantino stood by the choice, saying Trump “objectively … deserves it” for his role in conflict resolution efforts, according to an interview with Sky News. (SI)
The award has sparked debate and backlash from fans, advocacy groups, and some football officials, who view the gesture as breaching FIFA’s duty of neutrality and potentially complicating the image of the sport ahead of the World Cup. Calls for a boycott of the tournament — co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico — have surfaced in parts of Europe amid concerns over Trump’s policies and geopolitical actions, though major football figures and national federations have so far resisted backing such a move. (The Washington Post)
Infantino also rejected the idea that football should be used as a venue for boycotts or bans, arguing that the sport should bring people together around shared passion rather than fuel division. “There has never been calls for businesses to boycott a country, so why football?” he said, underscoring his belief that global sporting events can serve as unifying occasions despite political disagreements. (Sky News)