Trump wins Peace Prize: US President's long-awaited recognition, watch video

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Former US President Donald Trump finally received the honor he had repeatedly expressed his desire for. During the draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Trump was honored with the organization's first-ever FIFA Peace Award.

The ceremony took place on Friday at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., where Trump was presented with a gold trophy and medal. FIFA has established this new award to honor individuals who promote peace around the world.

Trump's statement: "This is the greatest honor of my life"

While accepting the award, Trump said, "This is the greatest honor of my life. More important than the award itself is that we contributed to the effort to save millions of lives." It's worth noting that the 2026 FIFA World Cup is being jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Why the criticism?

The decision to award Trump this honor has sparked debate within the football world and international politics. Critics say the award reflects a shift from FIFA's sports-focused character to a political one. Questions are also being raised about the close relationship between FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump. Some experts also argued that honoring Trump in the name of "peace efforts" amid the Gaza crisis is inappropriate.

Trump has repeatedly stated that he deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. FIFA's decision has once again reignited the debate about whether incorporating political messages into sporting events is the right move.