FIFA unveils inaugural "FIFA Peace Prize"

FIFA has unveiled a striking new honour — the FIFA Peace Prize, branded Football Unites the World — and it will make its debut at the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington D.C., a symbolic meeting of sport and diplomacy designed to shine a light on individuals whose actions have tangibly advanced peace and unity.

The inaugural award will be revealed on December 5 at the Kennedy Center during the World Cup draw ceremony, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino will present the prize on behalf of the global football family, turning a high-profile sporting ritual into a platform for global recognition.

Infantino frames the prize as FIFA’s answer to fracturing global tensions — a way to celebrate those who use courage, compassion and creative diplomacy to bridge divides — positioning football not merely as entertainment but as a global language for reconciliation and hope.

Inevitably the announcement has generated political and media buzz; the Washington draw will be both a ratings magnet and a diplomatic stage, prompting speculation about high-profile guests, surprise honourees and the balance between genuine philanthropy and headline-grabbing pageantry.

FIFA intends the Peace Prize to be an annual fixture, a recurring chance to elevate peacemakers at each World Cup draw and to define how the sport’s enormous reach is harnessed to spotlight social impact and bridge-building around the world.