FIFA World Cup nation files Donald Trump complaint on eve of tournament

 Norway sent a letter to FIFA backing a formal complaint against the governing body's decision to award Donald Trump the Peace Prize.

The 2026 World Cup has garnered attention, from the exorbitant ticket prices to Trump's rhetoric toward Iranian players after the United States bombed certain sites in their home country. What's more, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has landed in hot water for his decision to be very close to Trump.

At certain points, Infantino made his presence known in the White House, with the 79-year-old repeatedly calling the FIFA boss the wrong name as they spoke of quadrennial games that are to be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico over the course of a month.

In a letter sent to FIFA, Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) president Lise Klaveness showed support for a complaint - originally filed by human rights group FairSquare — regarding Infantino's decision to award Trump the Peace Prize during the World Cup draw in December 2025.

The complaint alleges that Infantino and other leaders violated FIFA's code of ethics by backing Trump, thereby undermining the impartiality they are supposed to maintain. The letter is also requesting an investigation into the origin of the Peace Prize.

“We have sent it, and it is ‌causing ⁠some political reactions,” Klaveness said to reporters, according to Front Office Sports. “But it is sent, and that is checked off. We will follow up, push forward, request meetings, and build momentum on this as soon as the World Cup is over.”

The 45-year-old also said the federation spoke with FIFA officials regarding the note and stated that there is "no doubt" that the letter was perceived as "problematic," especially as federations from other countries have expressed support in the NFF's actions.

The NFF was alone in its decision to send the letter criticizing Infantino and the other leaders' decision to present the Peace Prize to Trump. "But it was a good meeting, ⁠and we had constructive discussions about why it is perceived as problematic, and why it is important for Norway to support FairSquare in this matter," she continued.

Infantino and FIFA's decision to award Trump the Peace Prize has been panned both within and outside the governing body. The Athletic reported that the announcement of a peace prize was a shock to both fans and FIFA officials.

Reportedly, some on FIFA's Council and its vice presidents were "consulted or involved" in the award's creation, while others did not learn about the peace prize until the official statement was released.

Trump's winning the Peace Prize seemingly wasn't a surprise, given that it was "Trump-tailored," according to The Washington Post. After winning the award, the president stated, "This is truly one of the great honors of my life.

"Beyond awards, we saved millions and millions of lives. The fact that we could do that, so many different wars that were able to end in some cases right before they started, it was great to get them done. I want to thank my family, my great first lady, Melania. Thank you very much. You are going to have an event the likes of which the world has never seen.

"The world is a safer place now. The United States, a year ago, was not doing too well, and it's the hottest place anywhere right now."

Norway will play its first World Cup match against Iraq on June 16.