FIFA Reviews Donald Trump's Peace Prize After Council Meeting in Zurich — Award May Be Scrapped

FIFA has agreed to review the future of its Peace Prize — the controversial award first presented to United States President Donald Trump last year — after a fractious council meeting in Zurich on Thursday, in a move that could see the prize scrapped altogether.

Main News Report

FIFA's governing council met in Zurich on 15 October 2026 and decided that the Football Social Responsibility Committee would analyse the Peace Prize and submit a proposal, with a final decision to be taken at the next FIFA Council meeting, scheduled for 16 December in Doha, Qatar, according to multiple reports.

FIFA vice president and English FA chair Debbie Hewitt said the committee "will consider, first of all, how the Peace Prize came about, whether it should have come about, whether it should have been awarded in the way that it was, who made that decision and whether or not it should be taken out or whether it should be reformed," as reported by USA Today.

Trump is the award's sole recipient to date, and reports now say the prize — announced as an annual honour — is likely to be discontinued.

Background Context

FIFA created the Peace Prize in November 2025, describing it as an annual award for "individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world." The announcement came weeks after the Norwegian Nobel Committee passed Trump over for the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.

In December 2025, FIFA president Gianni Infantino presented the prize to Trump at the World Cup draw in Washington, D.C., citing his work on a Gaza ceasefire. "This is your prize; this is your peace prize," Infantino said at the ceremony, as reported by the Palm Beach Post.

The award drew swift condemnation. An international human rights group filed a complaint with FIFA's ethics committee accusing Infantino of a possible breach of political neutrality, the Norwegian Football Federation also complained, and 50 members of the European Parliament called for a FIFA investigation. Multiple reports said Infantino had not informed the FIFA Council before creating the prize, blindsiding many senior executives.

Reactions and Statements

The Zurich meeting itself was stormy, according to Sky Sports and BBC Sport. Infantino apologised for a plan to sell a 20 per cent stake in all future FIFA tournaments — and abandoned the proposal — but that was not enough for European football leaders, including the FA and UEFA, who continue to call for his resignation.

"When he puts other dignitaries in front of his 211 associations, then he's lost what football is about," Hewitt said, adding that the view was shared by many in the room, not just the Europeans.

Infantino still retains significant backing outside Europe. Ahmed Yahya, president of the Mauritania football federation and a FIFA Council member, publicly backed his continued leadership — a support base that could prove decisive, since FIFA's 211 member associations elect the president.

• Infantino abandoned his World Cup sell-off plan after apologising at the three-hour meeting.
• European leaders want him to resign; pressure grew with reports he received £1.3 million in 2024.
• FIFA's Legal Committee will also review disciplinary procedures after scrutiny of the suspension of USA striker Folarin Balogun's one-match ban.

Why This News Matters

The episode raises fundamental questions about the politics of world football's governing body. A prize created by Infantino without consulting the council — and then awarded to one of the world's most polarising political figures — has become a proxy battle over accountability and political neutrality in sport.

For millions of football fans in Pakistan and across South Asia, where the World Cup commands huge audiences, the row also matters because FIFA's leadership crisis could shape how the game is run ahead of future tournaments.

Future Developments

The Football Social Responsibility Committee will report its findings on the Peace Prize to the FIFA Council in December 2026, when a decision will be taken on whether to keep, reform or scrap the award. Infantino is seeking another term as FIFA president in March, though his opponents have yet to agree on a strong challenger.

FIFA also announced plans at the Zurich meeting to use some of its reserves to more than double planned funding for the 2027–2030 period to $6.35 billion, including around $25 million for each member association — a proposal that will also be examined in December.

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