FIFA introduces annual ‘Peace Prize’ to promote global unity through football

Addis Ababa, November 6, 2025 (FMC) — The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced the establishment of a new annual accolade known as the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World, aimed at recognizing individuals and organizations that demonstrate exceptional efforts toward promoting peace through football.

According to FIFA, the inaugural Peace Prize will be awarded on December 5, 2025, during the group-stage draw of the 2026 FIFA World Cup at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the initiative seeks to celebrate those who use football to bridge divides and bring people together in times of global uncertainty. “In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it is fundamental to recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and unite people in a spirit of peace,” he noted.

The annual award will highlight football’s role as a force for peace, solidarity, and inclusion — extending the sport’s influence beyond competition to global diplomacy. The organization emphasized that the Peace Prize reflects its ongoing commitment to promoting unity and social impact through football under the global campaign Football Unites the World.

While FIFA has not disclosed the identity of the first recipient, the announcement has generated widespread attention and speculation ahead of the World Cup draw. The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026.

For Africa, where football remains a cornerstone of social cohesion and youth engagement, the initiative presents an opportunity to elevate community-level peace-building efforts and showcase the continent’s contributions to using sport for unity and transformation.

FIFA’s Peace Prize thus reinforces the global message that football is not only a game — it is a universal language capable of inspiring hope and harmony across nations.