What to know about FIFA’s ,peace prize, who might receive it

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A new world peace prize had arrived on the scene, and it was created by FIFA, not Nobel.

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The World Football Organization said this week it would present an annual award to recognize “people who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions for peace.”

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It provided few details about the award and made no indication that potential recipients were limited to the world of sports. That has sparked widespread speculation that it could go to President Donald Trump, who has openly — and so far unsuccessfully — vied for the Nobel Peace Prize.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Trump have forged a strong alliance ahead of next year's World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Their paths crossed on Wednesday – the day FIFA announced its new award – in Miami, where they were both speaking at a conference of business leaders.

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Here's what we know (and don't know) about the award:

Will Donald Trump win?

Infantino has previously made it clear that he sees Trump as a champion of world peace.

On October 9, the day before this year's Nobel Peace Prize was announced, he wrote on Instagram that Trump “definitely deserves” the award for his efforts to reach a peace agreement in the Gaza Strip.

The next day, the Nobel laureate was not Trump, but Maria Corina Machado, a pro-democracy activist in Venezuela.

Asked in Miami on Wednesday whether Trump would win the FIFA trophy, Infantino laughed and replied: “You'll see on December 5th.”

How will the prize be announced?

The award will be announced Dec. 5 in Washington, when the World Cup draw takes place at the Kennedy Center, an arts center that Trump transformed this year.

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The date and location of a hugely significant football event for players and fans around the world was announced in the Oval Office in August.

At the draw ceremony, qualifying countries will be placed into 12 groups of four teams, which will determine the schedule for the opening stage of the 104-game tournament, which will be played in 16 cities in June and July next year. This is where the World Cup tournament, held every four years, becomes tangible, where imagined future rivals become real and travel plans can take shape.

The Peace Prize marks a departure from the tradition of the draw, which usually focuses exclusively on football.

How will the winners be selected?

FIFA did not provide details about the process for selecting the winner. The organization did not respond to questions from The Associated Press emailed Thursday about who will choose the winner or what criteria will be used.

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Infantino wrote on his Instagram account: “It is important to recognize the outstanding contributions of those who work hard to end conflict and bring people together in the spirit of peace.”

FIFA previously said the award should recognize “people who have taken exceptional and extraordinary actions in the name of peace and thereby united people around the world.”

Why does FIFA do this?

Although FIFA often promotes football as a tool for peace and unity, it has never before had an official peace prize.

If Trump receives the FIFA award, it will likely reinforce the impression that it was created in response to the US president's failure to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

Few FIFA officials spoke Thursday to discuss planning for the awards.

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