World football governing body FIFA on Wednesday announced it will introduce an award “to reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace and by doing so have united people across the world.”
The prize, called the FIFA Peace Prize, will be awarded annually, with the inaugural edition presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Dec. 3 during the final draw for FIFA World Cup 26 in Washington.
“In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognise the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” said Gianni Infantino.
Infantino has forged a close relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has spent much of his second term in office trying to broker peace in various conflicts around the world — and to ensure that he receives the recognition he feels is appropriate for his role as a peacemaker.
Despite his best efforts, Trump did not get the Nobel Peace Prize he had been overtly lobbying for. The White House blasted the Nobel Committee for not awarding the prize to Trump last month, saying that it had “placed politics over peace.”
Trump has also threatened to annex Greenland and Canada, and last week said the U.S. would recommence nuclear testing.
In July, FIFA opened an office in New York’s Trump Tower and appointed Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, to the board of an education charity project co-funded by World Cup ticket sales.
FIFA did not immediately respond to POLITICO’s request for a comment.