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Coventina

(29,270 posts)
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 01:48 PM Sunday

Growing sense of embarrassment at Fifa over Donald Trump peace prize

There is a growing sense of embarrassment among mid-level and senior officials within Fifa over the awarding of its peace prize to Donald Trump. The US president was handed the award at the World Cup draw in Washington DC in December with the Fifa president, Gianni Infantino, telling Trump: “We want to see hope, we want to see unity, we want to see a future. This is what we want to see from a leader and you definitely deserve the first Fifa Peace Prize.”

Since then, the US has launched airstrikes across Venezuela and captured the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro, and his wife, Cilia Flores, and flown them to the US, where he was put in jail. Maduro appeared in court on 5 January, pleading not guilty to drugs, weapons and “narco‑terrorism” charges. Trump has also threatened to invade Greenland because he said the US needs the territory “very badly”.

There was unease within Fifa at the time of Trump receiving the award with the governing body not disclosing any details of the selection process. Now, though, that has shifted to “deep embarrassment”, according to one senior Fifa source. Multiple officials have expressed their unease about the way it was handled.

A highly placed official, who declined to go on the record, admitted that staging the World Cup in the US is going to be a “very delicate” and “difficult” period, in the months leading up to the tournament as well as during the competition itself.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jan/18/embarrassment-fifa-donald-trump-peace-prize

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And here I thought Fifa was incapable of embarrassment.

Trump truly is extraordinary.

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kimbutgar

(26,932 posts)
3. I think the FIFA parts being held in the US are gong to be a financial disaster for the organization.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 01:55 PM
Sunday

Last edited Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:52 PM - Edit history (1)

By the time it occurs things will be a lot worst and players from other countries might refuse to play here. And don’t get me started me on the Olympics upcoming disaster.

Sequoia

(12,726 posts)
15. The Olympics
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:50 PM
Sunday

And the always wretched Bolaro blaring over the loudspeaker during March of the Nations.

PuraVidaDreamin

(4,480 posts)
6. There's never been such a grandiose pathological sociopathic narcissist quite like him.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 02:16 PM
Sunday

Most people say.

3catwoman3

(28,714 posts)
7. "...not disclosing any details of the selection process."
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 02:48 PM
Sunday

I doubt that there was any selection process at all. I think Infantino created this bogus award with only Trump in mind.

truddy777

(83 posts)
8. FIFA and the Cost of Symbolic Gestures
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 03:31 PM
Sunday

FIFA handing out a peace prize while refusing to explain the selection process says more about FIFA than about Trump. When an organization with a long history of scandals talks about embarrassment, it feels a bit hollow. Giving symbolic awards at political moments always backfires because actions get scrutinized instead of slogans. This just adds another layer of credibility damage ahead of a World Cup that already raises enough questions.

tanyev

(48,738 posts)
9. The selection process, LOL.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 05:07 PM
Sunday

Trump: Gianni, if you want World Cup games to happen in the U.S. I need a peace prize.

Infantino: On it, sir!

moonscape

(5,644 posts)
13. Selection process:
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:41 PM
Sunday

Do we give it to him:

1. In the morning
2. Early afternoon
3. Late Afternoon
4. Early evening primetime

Cha

(317,338 posts)
10. To put it Succinctly ... FAFO Fifa.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 05:21 PM
Sunday

Peace Prize to Traitor of the USA.. REALLY.

Mahalo Coventina

GopherGal

(2,810 posts)
11. Extraordinary, Indeed.
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:32 PM
Sunday

Trump is so foul and despicable as two shame even the shameless FIFA.

Bristlecone

(11,023 posts)
17. "Selection process!?" The made the entire F'ing thing up
Sun Jan 18, 2026, 06:56 PM
Sunday

The created this “award” out of whole cloth for Trump specifically. Talk about bullshit crocodile tears.

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