The award – which aims to be FIFA’s version of a Nobel Peace Prize – will be presented on an annual basis to an individual or group of individuals who have helped unite people in peace through unwavering commitment and special actions.
“In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” FIFA president Gianni Infantino said in a Wednesday, Nov. 5 statement.
Infantino added the award “will recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations.”
The announcement comes before Infantino will appear at the America Business Forum in Miami on Wednesday, Nov. 5, where U.S. President Donald Trump and Argentine World Cup champion Lionel Messi are among speakers at the event.
Infantino has attended several events in the past few weeks to promote the World Cup and the sport’s ability to provide peace and unity globally.
Infantino joined Trump at the Summit for Peace in Egypt on Oct. 13, and attended the Future Investment Initiative in Saudi Arabia on Oct. 28.
Infantino also accepted an Atlantic Council Global Citizen award in New York on Sept. 24, where he reiterated the World Cup will resemble 104 Super Bowls – likening the soccer tournament to the popular NFL championship game for American sports fans not keen on the sport.
Infantino added the World Cup will have 7 million people in attendance, and 6 billion people watching worldwide.
The World Cup “will be not just the biggest sporting event, but the biggest social event the world has ever seen,” Infantino said in his acceptance speech.
“We need to have occasions to unite the world, to bring everyone together, to bring people together so that they can meet, they can exchange, they can know each other, and they can all learn from each other. This is what the FIFA World Cup is about.”
Trump announced the World Cup draw would be held at the Kennedy Center in late August. The draw will set the schedule for all 104 matches of next summer’s tournament co-hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The World Cup begins on June 11, 2026, and the final will be on July 19, 2026.
