FIFA’s Gianni Infantino defends awarding a peace prize to Donald Trump and rejects calls for a World Cup boycott over US policies.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino has defended his controversial decision to award a peace prize to United States president Donald Trump.
Infantino was widely criticised for giving Trump the honour at the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington DC last December.
The move drew further scrutiny after US forces seized Venezuelan president Miguel Maduro and Trump expressed a desire to acquire Greenland.
However, Infantino insisted Trump was deserving of FIFA’s inaugural peace prize.
“Objectively, he deserves it,” Infantino told Sky News on Monday.
“Whatever we can do to help peace in the world, we should be doing it.”
Infantino rejected suggestions of a boycott of this year’s World Cup due to policies adopted by the Trump administration.
The tournament will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19.
There has been unrest in US cities like Minneapolis over the administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
The FIFA president questioned why football should be singled out for boycotts.
“In our divided world, in our aggressive world, we need occasions where people can come, can meet around the passion (for football),” he added.
Infantino also said FIFA and UEFA would “have to” look at allowing Russia back into international action.
Russia has been banned since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
“This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred,” Infantino said.
