Fact Check: Did FIFA revoke Trump’s peace prize after board investigation?

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump was named the first-ever recipient of the FIFA Peace Prize and accepted the honor on December 5 during the 2026 FIFA World Cup official draw in Washington, DC.

Shortly after the ceremony, a rumor circulated online claiming FIFA had revoked Trump's Peace Prize after board members allegedly launched an investigation into how the award was approved. The claim spread widely across social media platforms, prompting questions about its accuracy. Here is what the facts show.

Claim: FIFA revoked Donald Trump’s peace prize after board members launched investigation

Several Facebook posts shared nearly identical language claiming, “BREAKING: FIFA Orders Donald Trump’s Peace Prize Revoked and Returned After Board Members and Top Executives Launch Official Investigation Into Award Process, Claiming Award Was Unilaterally Approved by President Gianni Infantino Without Board Consent.”

These posts linked to an article carrying the same headline, which alleged that an internal investigation uncovered serious procedural violations. According to the article, senior officials claimed the award was never reviewed or voted on by FIFA’s executive board. 

The piece further alleged that FIFA President Gianni Infantino approved and announced the prize on his own, bypassing established governance protocols and surprising multiple top executives. It also claimed FIFA had confirmed the prize was rescinded pending the outcome of the inquiry, describing the organization as “tense” and “deeply fractured. "

Fact Check: Viral claim found to be based on fictional information

The claims circulating online were false. There was no evidence that FIFA announced any investigation into the award process or that Trump’s Peace Prize had been revoked.

Fact-checking outlet Snopes reviewed the article and found no factual basis for the claims. The outlet also reported that GPTZero, a tool used to detect AI-generated text, rated the article as having a 100% likelihood of being generated by artificial intelligence. 

In addition, no reputable media organization reported FIFA calling for the return of the award. FIFA’s official website and verified social media accounts made no announcements suggesting the prize was under review or rescinded.

Taken together, the lack of credible sourcing, absence of independent reporting, and confirmation from fact-checkers indicated the story was entirely fabricated.

Donald Trump calls peace prize ‘one of the great honors of my life'

During the presentation ceremony, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said Donald Trump was selected “in recognition of his exceptional and extraordinary actions to promote peace and unity around the world.”

“This is your prize, this is your peace prize,” Infantino told Trump while presenting him with a trophy, certificate, and medal. He added that Trump could wear the medal wherever he wished.

Trump described the honor as “one of the great honors of my life” and went on to defend his global record. He claimed credit for preventing large-scale loss of life in several conflict zones, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

He also referenced tensions in South Asia, saying the United States had helped prevent conflicts involving India and Pakistan from escalating. Trump further praised Infantino for record-breaking ticket sales ahead of the 2026 tournament, predicting the World Cup would be an event “the likes of which maybe the world has never seen.”