Jackson Irvine Slams FIFA Peace Prize for Donald Trump, Warns It Undermines Football’s Human Rights Charter

Jackson Irvine, the Australian midfielder who captains Bundesliga club St Pauli and is on course for a third World Cup appearance, has delivered a pointed rebuke of FIFA over its decision to honour US President Donald Trump with the organisation’s first-ever peace prize — adding another layer of controversy to an already fraught buildup to the 2026 World Cup.

Speaking to Reuters on Wednesday, the 33-year-old said the award fundamentally contradicts FIFA’s stated mission. “As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize makes a mockery of what they’re trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world,” Irvine said.

Trump received the prize at the World Cup draw in December, where FIFA president Gianni Infantino declared: “This is what we want from a leader; a leader that cares about the people.” Infantino subsequently defended the decision in February, telling Sky News that Trump had played a role in securing a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, adding: “Objectively, he deserves it.” Since receiving the award, the United States has carried out major military operations in Venezuela and Iran.

The White House also responded to criticism of the honour. In a statement, spokesperson Davis Ingle said: “There is no one else in the world more deserving of FIFA’s first ever peace prize than President Trump. Anyone who thinks otherwise clearly suffers from a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.”

Irvine, who holds a senior advocacy role within global players’ union FIFPRO, argued that decisions of this nature widen the growing divide between elite football and its grassroots foundations. “Decisions like [awarding Trump the peace prize] feel like they just set us back in the perceived market of what football currently is, especially at the top level where it’s becoming so disconnected from society and the grassroots of what the game actually is and means in our communities and in the world,” he said.

The midfielder has a well-established record of speaking out on human rights matters. Ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Irvine joined fellow Socceroos players in issuing a collective statement expressing concern over the “suffering” of migrant workers in Qatar and restrictions on LGBTI+ people “to love the person that they choose.” He extended those concerns to the United States this week: “It’s not an issue just in the Middle East, in America we’re seeing more and more of the rights of these communities … being taken away all over the country. We have to sincerely hope that we see a lot of open support in that space as well.”

FIFA has not yet determined whether players will be permitted to wear armbands expressing support for social causes at the 2026 tournament. Irvine acknowledged the difficulty of speaking out in a polarised climate, noting sympathy for players who opt to remain silent. “You’ve got a group who are unbelievably supportive and really love to see people in these positions speak up about issues that they care about,” he said. “And on the other side, the opposite, the polarisation has gone further. People really actively dislike players trying to bring politics into sport.”

The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has faced mounting scrutiny beyond the peace prize controversy. Inflated ticket and transport prices have frustrated supporters, while Iran’s participation has introduced a complex diplomatic dimension given the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Human rights advocates have also raised concerns about conditions within the United States itself as the tournament approaches.

Irvine is currently engaged in a relegation battle with St Pauli in the Bundesliga but remains in contention for inclusion in the Australian squad. Having recovered from a foot injury, he is on track to appear at a third consecutive World Cup. FIFA was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.