(MENAFN) FIFA unveiled Wednesday a new international honor recognizing individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to peace through bridging divides across nations.

The award, titled "FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World," will celebrate those whose remarkable peacebuilding work has connected communities worldwide.

A FIFA statement explained the award's significance: "The FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World will be bestowed on behalf of all football-loving people from all around the world - more than five billion of the world's population. With their daily actions in and for football, all these people contribute to FIFA's motto Football Unites the World as they unite girls and boys, women and men around passion, joy, hope and happiness, and it is therefore only fitting that a special award recognizes a special achievement."

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will present the prize's first edition on December 5, 2025, during the 2026 World Cup final draw ceremony scheduled in Washington, United States.

"In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it's fundamental to recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace," Infantino declared. "Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, the FIFA Peace Prize - Football Unites the World will recognize the enormous efforts of those individuals who unite people, bringing hope for future generations."

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