'Decisions like that just set us back': Socceroos star whacks FIFA for Trump Peace Prize 'mockery'

Socceroos star Jackson Irvine has put the boot into FIFA, saying the decision to award Donald Trump a "Peace Prize" made a mockery of its human rights charter.

Irvine, a 33-year-old midfielder from Melbourne, has long been outspoken on social and political issue and chose an interview with Reuters to voice his dismay at football's governing body.

US President Trump was bizarrely awarded the inaugural gong by FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the World Cup draw in December, ahead of his nation co-hosting the tournament this year.

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The US, which is co-hosting the World Cup with Canada and Mexico, launched a military strike on Venezuela a month after the draw and began joint airstrikes with Israel on Iran in February.

"As an organisation, you would have to say decisions like the one that we saw awarding this peace prize makes a mockery of what they're trying to do with the human rights charter and trying to use football as a global driving force for good and positive change in the world," Irvine told Reuters.

"Decisions like that feel like they just set us back in the perceived market of what football currently is, especially at the top level where it's becoming so disconnected from society and the grassroots of what the game actually is and means in our communities and in the world."

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Amnesty International and dozens of US civil and human rights groups have issued a "World Cup travel advisory," warning tournament visitors of "rising authoritarianism and increasing violence" in the United States during Trump's aggressive immigration enforcement.

The groups said the advisory was necessary "in light of the deteriorating human rights situation in the United States and in the absence of meaningful action and concrete guarantees from FIFA, host cities, or the US government."

A FIFA spokesperson pointed to several statements and policies, including the federation's governing documents, which say, "FIFA is committed to respecting all internationally recognised human rights and shall strive to promote the protection of these rights."

The tournament kicks off on June 11 with games spread across North America, including 11 stadiums in the US along with two in Canada and three in Mexico.

Australia play the United States in Seattle on June 20 (AEST).

Irvine's comments could add further spice to what is expected to be another combative encounter.

The veteran also protested of Qatar's human rights record ahead of the 2022 World Cup - and urged others to join him.

"You've got a group who are unbelievably supportive and really love to see people in these positions speak up about issues that they care about," Irvine told Reuters.

"And ​on the other side, the opposite, the polarisation has gone further. People really actively dislike players trying to bring politics into sport."

Iran is in Group G with Belgium, New Zealand and Egypt.

FIFA has consistently said Iran will stick to the World Cup schedule and has refused to entertain suggestions that the team's games be moved to Mexico.

"Now even more, now that the world is going through a very, very delicate, difficult, dangerous time with many conflicts, and many of you are directly affected and involved in these conflicts," Infantino said.

"Now even more, we need to find ways to build these famous bridges, or maybe to build football fields instead. And to build competitions where people can join and come together."