FIFA has unveiled a new annual honour, the FIFA Peace Prize – Football Unites the World, which will be presented for the first time during the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals draw in Washington D.C. next month.

According to the world football governing body, the award aims to celebrate individuals who have made exceptional contributions to promoting peace through football, using the sport’s universal appeal to foster understanding and unity.

“In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it is vital to recognise those who work tirelessly to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino in a statement released on Wednesday. “Football stands for peace, and on behalf of the entire global football community, this award will honour those whose actions inspire hope for future generations.”

The inaugural presentation of the FIFA Peace Prize will coincide with the 2026 World Cup draw on December 5, to be held at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., where all 48 qualified teams will learn their group-stage opponents.

The draw will also mark a symbolic celebration of unity as football’s biggest event returns to North America, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico jointly hosting the expanded tournament from June 11 to July 19, 2026 — featuring a record 104 matches across 16 cities.

The launch of the FIFA Peace Prize further reinforces FIFA’s global campaign, Football Unites the World, which seeks to highlight football’s power as a force for solidarity, understanding, and social transformation beyond the pitch.

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Head coach Thierry Mouyouma of Gabon’s national team, the Panthers, will on Thursday, November 6, unveil his 25-man squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup zonal play-offs. The information was confirmed by the Gabonese Press Agency (AGP).

Gabon, who finished as the best runner-up in the qualifiers with 25 points, are set to face Nigeria’s Super Eagles in a high-stakes semi-final on Thursday, November 13, at 5:00 PM (4:00 PM GMT). The match will take place at the El Barid Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, and will feature Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology.

The encounter promises to be explosive, as the Panthers go up against a star-studded Nigerian side featuring top European-based players such as Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. Victory for Gabon would set up a final clash on November 16 against the winner of DR Congo vs. Cameroon, with a spot in the intercontinental play-offs in March 2026—the final hurdle before the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico—at stake.

A blend of youth and experience expected

Coach Mouyouma is expected to maintain the core of his regular squad while introducing a few new faces to inject freshness and balance. The team’s talisman and captain, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is set to return after serving a suspension, bolstering the attack alongside Denis Bouanga, Kanga Guelor, and Mario Lemina.

In goal, Anse Ngoubi is likely to retain his starting role, while veteran defender Bruno Ecuele Manga will once again anchor the back line and provide leadership to a relatively youthful defense.

The upcoming mini-tournament in Morocco, organized by CAF, will not only determine Africa’s additional World Cup hopeful but also serve as a dress rehearsal for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nine African teams—Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, and South Africa—have already booked their tickets to the 2026 World Cup. The winner from this play-off series will join them as Africa’s tenth representative.

All eyes will be on Thierry Mouyouma’s announcement on Thursday, as Gabonese fans eagerly await the lineup that will take on Nigeria’s formidable Super Eagles in Rabat.

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Gabonese supporters living in Morocco are eager to turn out in large numbers to back their national team, the Panthers, when they face the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off scheduled for November 13 in Rabat.

However, their excitement is being overshadowed by frustration over ticketing challenges and a lack of clear communication from organizers.

According to a Gabonese newspaper, L’Union, fans have complained about a cumbersome online ticket purchase system, which requires Moroccan residency permits and restricts ticket buyers to 30 tickets each.

The situation has left both Gabonese supporters and their country’s embassy in Morocco grappling with confusion.

“Our compatriots in Morocco are excited about the Panthers’ arrival and are determined to fill the stands in Rabat,” said a source at the Gabonese Embassy.

 “But we are inundated with questions about how to access the stadium. The online application is complex and not easily accessible to everyone.”

For many fans, the uncertainty is dampening the build-up to the much-anticipated tie.

“On Monday, June 9, 2025, I travelled from Casablanca with friends to watch the Gabon–Guinea-Bissau friendly in Mohammedia,” said Claive-Lewis Mavendji Boungana, a Gabonese student in Casablanca.

“We’re eager to do the same for the Nigeria match. But since it’s a FIFA-organized game, there are more security protocols, and we don’t know how to get tickets. We just want clear information.”

The Gabonese Football Federation (Fégafoot), meanwhile, has clarified that it has no control over ticket sales for the World Cup fixture.

“This is a tournament organized by FIFA, CAF, and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation,” explained Fégafoot president Pierre Alain Mounguengui.

“Unfortunately, ticketing is not managed by us. Once we receive details about points of sale, we’ll immediately communicate them.”

The Panthers, who are expected to arrive in Morocco early next week, are counting on strong fan support when they take on Nigeria in what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the World Cup qualifying campaign.

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