London – FIFA chief Gianni Infantino defended his controversial decision to award a peace prize to United States president Donald Trump as he dismissed calls for a World Cup boycott.
Trump wins the previously non-existent #FIFAPeacePrize just before invading Venezuela
Next year he wins the LEGO PIECE PRIZEYou know I thought FIFA under Blatter was shameless, but Infantino has taken it to another level#FIFAWorldCup #Mundial2026
— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) December 5, 2025
“Whatever we can do to help peace in the world, we should be doing it, and for this reason, for some time we were thinking we should do something to reward people who do something.”
Infantino rejected suggestions there might be a boycott of this year’s World Cup – to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 19 – due to policies adopted at home and abroad by the Trump administration.
There has been unrest in a number of US cities, most notably Minneapolis, over the Trump administration’s approach to immigration enforcement.
But FIFA president Infantino said there were never calls for businesses to boycott a country, “so why football?”
The 55-year-old added: “In our divided world, in our aggressive world, we need occasions where people can come, can meet around the passion (for football).”
Infantino also said FIFA and UEFA – European football’s governing body – would “have to” look at allowing Russia back into international action.
Russia has been banned since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but the International Olympic Committee has now recommended sports federations allow Russian teams to compete at youth level.
“We have to (look at readmitting Russia). Definitely,” Infantino said.
“This ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.
“Having girls and boys from Russia being able to play football games in other parts of Europe would help.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino said the ban on the participation of Russian athletes should be lifted: “We have to. Definitely.”
“Because this ban has not achieved anything, it has just created more frustration and hatred.”
He said he believes “having girls and boys from… pic.twitter.com/LIN7Bn1agO
— Anton Gerashchenko (@Gerashchenko_en) February 2, 2026
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Source: AFP
