Jackson Irvine Blasts FIFA Peace Prize Award to Trump as 'A Mockery'

Australian international Jackson Irvine isn't holding back his criticism, and considering FIFA's controversial actions last December, few would blame him.

The FC St. Pauli midfielder and Co-President of Professional Footballers Australia has publicly condemned FIFA's newly created Peace Prize — presented to Donald Trump by FIFA President Gianni Infantino during the World Cup draw ceremony — calling it "a mockery." Speaking with Reuters, the 33-year-old Australian star argued that the decision contradicts FIFA's own human rights principles and further distances football's governing body from the communities it claims to represent.

"Decisions like that feel like they just set us back," Irvine stated bluntly.

Irvine's criticism echoes sentiments from other prominent football figures. Norwegian Football Association president Lise Klaveness has demanded the prize be "abolished" entirely, contending that FIFA lacks both the authority and proper governance structure to distribute political honours unilaterally. Her concerns are well-founded: The Athletic reported that FIFA's own Council wasn't even consulted before Infantino's announcement — a procedural breach that reveals everything about how hastily this decision was executed.

Infantino's Trump Alliance Raises Serious Questions

Infantino's comments during the award ceremony were remarkable. "You definitely deserve the first FIFA Peace Prize for your action... You can always count, Mr President, on my support, on the support of the entire football community," he declared. This represented a FIFA president offering personal loyalty to a sitting head of state — particularly one whose country is co-hosting the upcoming tournament. The inherent conflict of interest is impossible to ignore.

The Peace Prize was established in November 2025, mere weeks after Trump's unsuccessful pursuit of the Nobel Peace Prize became public knowledge. The suspicious timing alone should have raised red flags throughout FIFA's leadership. Yet Infantino proceeded without council authorization, presenting Trump with both a trophy and medal during the World Cup draw ceremony.

For an organization that promotes a human rights charter and regularly positions football as a "force for good," this represents a credibility crisis that won't simply disappear.

Irvine Highlights LGBTQI+ Safety Concerns at World Cup

Beyond criticizing the prize itself, Irvine expressed direct apprehension about the safety and inclusion of LGBTQI+ supporters and athletes at the tournament scheduled across the United States, Mexico, and Canada this summer. He was forthright in his assessment: "In America, we're seeing more and more the rights of these communities put into... these people and rights are being taken away all over the country."

Irvine's advocacy isn't performative. Four years ago, he organized his Socceroos teammates to record a video condemning Qatar's treatment of same-sex couples and migrant labourers ahead of that World Cup. He demonstrated his commitment then, lending his current statements considerable credibility.

Australia has been placed in Group D alongside the United States, Paraguay, and Türkiye. Irvine will begin his third World Cup campaign on June 13 against Türkiye at BC Place in Vancouver — meaning he'll be competing in a host nation while these controversies remain unresolved. Whether FIFA will provide any substantive response before then remains highly questionable.