In addition to the determination of the 2026 World Cup groups, there are other big expectations surrounding the draw that will take place on Friday, starting at 2 pm (Brasilia time), in Washington, DC. FIFA’s proximity to US President Donald Trump has sparked rumors that the event will also serve as a platform for praise for the politician, with the possibility of him receiving an award from the organisation.
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Doubts grew stronger after the announcement, a month ago, of the establishment of the FIFA Peace Prize, which will be awarded annually. On this occasion, the President of the entity stated that “in an increasingly unstable and divided world, it is necessary to recognize the exceptional contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and unite people in the spirit of peace.”
This year’s Nobel Peace Prize was an obsession for Trump, who credited his actions with ending eight wars since taking office for a second term. The award ended up being awarded to Maria Corina Machado, the leader of the Venezuelan opposition to the Maduro government.
Infantino had already announced that the US President deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Last Thursday, he was present at the signing ceremony of the controversial armistice agreement (because the clashes did not stop) between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which Trump promoted. The politician was keen to thank the leader for his presence.
Human Rights Watch International stated that it had sent a letter to FIFA requesting information about the process and criteria applied to the award established by the entity. He received no response.
To further heat up this cauldron, FIFA has announced the presence of the Village People band among the attractive musical acts in the draw. The band will sing “YMCA,” a 1970s hit that became the national anthem for Trump’s victorious presidential campaign last year.
The song was played at the then-candidate’s campaign rallies and at campaign fundraising events. Infantino was present at Trump’s inauguration and the previous rally.