FIFA President Gianni Infantino isn't backing down. He's defending his decision to give President Trump the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize, even though it's caused quite a stir in the football world.
In a recent interview with Sky News, Infantino explained the thinking behind the controversial award. "Whatever we can do to help peace in the world, we should be doing it," he said. The FIFA chief believes Trump "objectively deserves it."
The whole thing went down during the 2026 World Cup draw in Washington back in December. Many saw it as a bit of a consolation prize after Trump missed out on the Nobel Peace Prize in October. Infantino was actually one of the people pushing for Trump to win that Nobel.
Venezuela Connection Sparks Debate
Infantino's main defense? He's pointing to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, who won the actual Nobel Peace Prize this year. After Trump's military operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, Machado gave her award to Trump.
"It's not just Gianni Infantino who said it," he argued. "There's a Nobel Peace Prize winner who said this. He was instrumental in resolving conflicts and saving thousands of lives."
The timing couldn't be more awkward. This comes as immigration policies in the U.S. face serious criticism following fatal shootings of two U.S. citizens by federal immigration officers in Minneapolis.
World Cup 2026 Still On Track
When asked about calls from his predecessor to boycott the U.S. over immigration concerns, Infantino pushed back. He's against boycotts in general and noted there aren't widespread calls to isolate America economically or diplomatically.
"In our divided world, in our aggressive world, we need occasions where people can come, can meet around the passion for football," Infantino said. He's clearly determined to keep the 2026 World Cup on U.S. soil moving forward without disruption.
For punters looking at World Cup futures, this political drama doesn't seem to be affecting the tournament's plans. The 2026 competition is still set to go ahead as scheduled.
In other controversial comments, Infantino has also suggested lifting soccer's ban on Russia. Those remarks got a warm welcome from the Kremlin, but they're adding to the criticism the FIFA president is facing from multiple directions.
