The Man Behind the Biggest World Cup in History, Playing to an Audience of One

FIFA president Gianni Infantino conceived of a new “FIFA Peace Prize” during preparations for a World Cup kickoff event in Washington, D.C., last year, aiming to transform what is usually a routine soccer gathering into a major geopolitical moment, according to two FIFA sources. The plan called for the award to be introduced at FIFA’s December meeting, an event that normally draws attention mainly from soccer fans, with President Trump as the first recipient.

Infantino, a Swiss lawyer who has led world football’s governing body for nearly a decade, reportedly presented the idea to FIFA’s top committee with little advance notice. The FIFA Council, which serves as the sport’s international governing body, was surprised by the proposal, according to the sources, and did not immediately know how to react. The council had not previously created an award of this kind, and the concept represented an unusual departure from FIFA’s traditional focus on the game itself.

The proposed peace prize appears designed to broaden FIFA’s role beyond sport and position the organization within a wider political and diplomatic context. By associating the award with Trump, Infantino’s idea would link a global soccer institution to one of the most prominent political figures in the world, ensuring that the announcement would attract far more attention than a standard FIFA meeting.

The timing of the plan was also notable. The Washington, D.C. event was part of preparations for the next World Cup cycle, but Infantino’s idea shifted the spotlight from tournament logistics to international symbolism. Rather than merely discussing football operations, the organization would be used to stage a high-profile gesture framed around peace and leadership.

The report suggests that the move was not broadly anticipated inside FIFA. Sources said many in the room had no idea the proposal was coming, underscoring how personally driven the initiative was and how unusual it was for FIFA’s leadership structure. The council’s uncertainty reflected the novelty of the idea and the fact that FIFA had never attempted to create a peace-themed award tied to a political figure.

Infantino has long been known for expanding FIFA’s global profile and cultivating relationships with powerful political leaders. The peace prize concept fits that pattern by elevating the organization’s visibility while also signaling a willingness to move into symbolic international affairs. At the same time, it highlights the tension between sport and politics, especially when a sports governing body attempts to create a prize with diplomatic overtones.

If implemented, the FIFA Peace Prize would mark a significant and unconventional moment for the organization, blending soccer branding, world politics, and personal diplomacy in a way that would almost certainly generate global debate.