Sunday, 07 December 2025.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) condemns the disgraceful and politically motivated decision by FIFA to award former United States President Donald Trump the inaugural so-called “FIFA Peace Prize.” This reckless act represents a direct violation of FIFA’s own regulations, which explicitly prohibit the organisation from entering partisan political terrain or exploiting football for the benefit of imperialist interests.

Instead of safeguarding the universal integrity of the sport, FIFA has chosen to appease Donald Trump and the geopolitical interests of the United States ahead of the World Cup hosted on American soil. Donald Trump is not, and has never been, a symbol of peace. His record reflects aggression, destabilisation and authoritarian conduct. During his presidency he has actively attempted to overthrow the democratically elected government of Venezuela; he endorsed and benefited from destabilising actions in Honduras, further entrenching chaos in Latin America; and has interfered in South Africa’s domestic affairs through inflammatory statements and threats of sanctions in order to intimidate a sovereign country’s democratic processes.

Furthermore, he engaged in economic bullying of Canada, Iceland and several European nations, using tariffs and coercion as political weapons to enforce compliance with US interests and withdrew the United States from global treaties, undermining peace efforts, climate agreements and multilateral cooperation. Trump had additionally escalated tensions with Iran, culminating in the illegal assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, and he entrenched violent instability across the Middle East. Above all, Trump remains a loyal supporter of Israel’s genocide against Palestinians, and providing political, military and diplomatic cover for Israel’s occupation and crimes against humanity.

This is the track record of a man who violated the sovereignty of nations, trampled on international law and acted as an agent of imperial domination. To brand such an individual a figure of peace is an insult to the oppressed peoples of the world and to all genuine advocates of justice, freedom and human dignity.

FIFA’s decision to invent or repurpose a “peace prize” for the sole purpose of flattering Donald Trump is shameful. It amounts to sportswashing fascism and is yet another manifestation of a dangerous global trend in which powerful individuals with antidemocratic tendencies are sanitised through international institutions. Football, the most cherished sport on earth, cannot and must not be used to legitimise fascism, imperialism or political manipulation.

The EFF rejects this award with contempt and has already severally called on FIFA to cancel the US as a host for the 2026 tournament due to their treatment of foreigners particularly from the Global South that amounts to human rights violations. The existence of ICE which acts a vigilante group targeting anyone in America they do not approve off based on colour and race, and implementing off the book deportations places all visitors to the country at risk.

We call on FIFA to reverse this peace prize, and restore the integrity of its governance. Football must belong to the people of the world.

ISSUED BY ECONOMIC FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Sinawo Thambo (National Spokesperson) 072 629 7422

Thembi Msane (National Spokesperson) 061 467 8169

Andiswa Madikazi (Parliament Media Liason) 069 516 4924

Thato Lebyane (Media Inquiries) 078 563 1581