Norway Demands Rescinding of FIFA Peace Prize

The Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) has formally called for the abolition of FIFA’s newly established “Peace Prize,” asserting that the accolade contravenes the governing body’s core principle of political neutrality. Lise Klaveness, the President of the NFF, confirmed that the federation intends to submit a formal letter to FIFA demanding an end to awards that bear no relevance to the sport of football.

Background of the Controversy

The dispute stems from the inaugural presentation of the award by FIFA President Gianni Infantino to United States President Donald Trump. The ceremony took place in December during the draw for the 2026 World Cup, hosted in Washington. The decision drew significant international scrutiny and criticism, particularly following military actions taken by the United States against Iran, which many observers felt rendered the “Peace Prize” incongruous with global events.

To date, the NFF remains the only national federation to publicly challenge the award. Klaveness argued that the responsibility for such honours lies with independent bodies, such as the Nobel Institute, rather than a sports governing body.

Summary of NFF’s Key Objections

Support for Legal and Ethical Reviews

The NFF has also announced its official support for a complaint filed with the FIFA Ethics Committee by the advocacy group “FairSquare.” The group alleges that the creation and bestowal of the Peace Prize bypassed necessary regulatory oversight. Klaveness emphasised that the NFF seeks a transparent resolution to this matter, urging the Ethics Committee to evaluate the breach of political neutrality.

“We want this award to be cancelled,” Klaveness stated to the press. “It is a full-time, highly sensitive task that requires specific criteria and independent judging. From a mandate and administrative perspective, such initiatives should be avoided in the future.”

Concerns Regarding 2026 World Cup Security

Beyond the prize itself, the NFF has raised serious concerns regarding the involvement of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the security operations for the 2026 World Cup. While U.S. officials maintain that ICE will be part of the standard security apparatus, the NFF fears that spectators may be unfairly targeted.

Klaveness intends to bring this issue to the forefront at the upcoming FIFA Congress, scheduled to commence on 30 April in Vancouver. The NFF is seeking explicit guarantees from FIFA and the U.S. government that immigration officials will not target fans during the tournament.

The federation’s objective is to ensure that the World Cup remains inclusive and safe for all attendees. “We want to discuss with FIFA leadership how they plan to control the actions of ICE in the various stadiums,” Klaveness added. “Our goal is that everyone can travel to and enter the stadiums safely.”