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Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine criticized FIFA for awarding Donald Trump its inaugural peace prize, stating it undermines the organization's mission. The decision has sparked controversy due to Trump's actions in Venezuela and Iran.
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Australia midfielder Jackson Irvine said FIFA awarding Donald Trump its inaugural peace prizeΒ "makes a mockery" of the organization's mission.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino gave the U.S. president the awardΒ at the 2026 World Cup draw in December.
The move was controversial immediately, and has since become more contentious due to Trump's aggressive actions in Venezuela and Iran.
Infantino appears to have been the driving force behind the award's creation. According to The Athletic, FIFA's Council and vice presidents were not "consulted or involved" in the award's creation, as they normally would have been with such an initiative.
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Jackson Irvine criticized FIFA's decision, claiming it 'makes a mockery' of the organization's mission.
Trump's aggressive actions in Venezuela and Iran have drawn significant criticism, contributing to the controversy surrounding the FIFA peace prize.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino was the driving force behind the award's creation, while FIFA's Council and vice presidents were not consulted.
The FIFA peace prize was awarded to Donald Trump during the 2026 World Cup draw in December.

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In February, Infantino defended the decision to give Trump the award, saying:Β "objectively, he deserves it." That interview took place before the U.S. and Israel started a military conflict with Iran, a participant in the World Cup this summer.
Irvine and Australia will also take part in the World Cup this summer. The Socceroos were drawn into Group D, where they will face the United States, Turkey and Paraguay.
Speaking to Reuters, the 33-year-old said that Trump's peace prize shows that FIFA is straying from its stated principles.
"As an organization, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize βmakes 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 βand positive change in the world," Irvine said.
"Decisions like that feel like they just set us back in the perceived market β 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 βour communities and in the world."
Irvine has represented Australia at two World Cups, and appears set to make the Socceroos roster for this summer's competition.
The United States, Canada and Mexico will serve as co-hosts of the World Cup, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Diego Luna of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Tim Ream of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 10: United States National Team poses for portraits in Stars uniforms on November 10, 2025 in Philadelphia, United States.
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PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - NOVEMBER 9: Folarin Balogun of the United States poses during a USMNT portrait session on November 9, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Australia's Jackson Irvine slams Trump FIFA Peace Prize before World Cup