FIFA has announced the creation of a new annual award, the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World, with its inaugural winner to be honoured during the 2026 World Cup finals draw in Washington, DC next month, the football governing body said on Wednesday.

The award has been designed to “reward individuals who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace,” FIFA explained.

“In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it is essential to recognise those who work tirelessly to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said.
“Football stands for peace, and the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World will celebrate the efforts of those who unite people and offer hope for future generations.”

The World Cup draw is scheduled for December 5th at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, where all 48 participating teams will learn their group-stage opponents.

“We are uniting the world, Mr. President, uniting the world here in America, and we are very proud of that,” Infantino told US President Donald Trump during a ceremonial presentation of the World Cup trophy.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, featuring a record 104 matches in 16 host cities.