Oct.23

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This Week in Schadenfreude: Trump Is No Longer FIFA's Top Gun

When the Nobel Peace Prize recipient for 2026 was announced last week, and was someone other than Donald Trump, Trump was, of course, incensed. He has fully internalized the spin that he somehow singlehandedly ended seven, or eight, or nine wars, or whatever number it is this week. He has also climbed whatever cognitive hill you have to climb in order to believe that the people who hand out the PEACE prize are willing to completely overlook that he almost singlehandedly started a war in Iran, with all its deleterious and ongoing effects.

But at least he still has one peace prize, right? The one he got from FIFA? Yes... for now. But since Trump was "recognized" with that pseudo-award, a few things have changed. To wit:

1. FIFA president and Trump buddy Gianni Infantino is trying to be reelected to another term.
   
   
2. Infantino in particular, and FIFA in general, have to be worried about FIFA's partners going forward, such as 2030 World Cup hosts Portugal/Spain/Morocco. And Trump is hated, hated, hated in those places.
   
   
3. Infantino in particular, and FIFA in general, have to be less worried about Trump and the U.S., since the 2026 World Cup is over, and there's no longer any risk of "someone" throwing a tantrum and finding a way to gum up the works.

Given these things, it's not too much a surprise that FIFA is now reviewing the prize, to assess whether or not it should have been awarded.

The proximate cause of this investigation is a formal complaint filed by a British human rights group, in which they observe (correctly) that FIFA's bylaws require it to be neutral, and that polishing Trump's apple in that way does not seem to comport with "neutral." And so, as FIFA Vice President Debbie Hewitt told the British press, a FIFA panel will take another look at the situation:

They will consider, first of all, how the Peace Prize came about, whether it should have come about, whether it should have been awarded in the way that it was, who made that decision and whether or not it should be taken out or whether it should be reformed.

Counting on FIFA to do the right thing is not usually a wise choice. On the other hand, poking Trump in the eye is also the politic thing to do, and FIFA tends to be VERY politic.

If the award is withdrawn or canceled, Trump will blow a gasket. He might well try to declare war on Switzerland, since that is where FIFA is headquartered. But much of the rest of the world will feel (and already is feeling) a bit of schadenfreude at his expense. Of course, even if the FIFA Peace Prize turns into the world's most impressive doorstop, Trump still has the "Champion for Freedom Award" that Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) gave him. That one is totally legit. Scott certainly did not go down to his local Things Remembered and have them knock that one out for 40 bucks plus tax. No, siree. (Z)