Trump Suggests Hosting World Cup as Motivation for Russia to Cease Conflict
Headline: 2026 World Cup: Could Russia Compete Again After Ukraine Conflict?
Subhead: A look at the possible returns of Russia to international football, as discussed between Presidents Trump and Infantino.
The 2026 World Cup, set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is rapidly approaching. FIFI President Gianni Infantino recently met with President Donald Trump to discuss various aspects, one of them being the participation of Russia in the event.
Russia, currently banned from international competitions since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, was raised as a topic during the discussion. To everyone's surprise, President Trump was clueless about the ban, admitting, "I didn't know that, is that right?" [Daily Mail]
Infantino confirmed the ban but signaled a hope for peace so that Russia could return to the international stage. Interestingly, Trump proposed the World Cup as a possible incentive for Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. Here's where tensions are intensifying
"That's possible," Trump said. "Hey, that could be a good incentive, right? We want to get them to stop. We want them to stop. Five thousand young people a week are being killed, it's not even believable, the Russian soldiers and Ukrainian soldiers mostly." [CNN]
While it's encouraging to see a potential end to the war through sports, it's essential to understand the current rules for Russia's participation. At present, Russia's national team is excluded from the qualification process for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which began in September 2023. [1][2][4] Despite this, Russia continues to participate in friendly matches outside of FIFA and UEFA.
If Russia desires to play in the 2026 World Cup, they must swiftly engage in peace talks. The qualification process is already well underway, having started back in March. Should peace negotiations succeed, FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his hope for Russia's reintegration into international football. [1][4] However, any decision would primarily depend on geopolitical developments and the lifting of the current ban.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing situation, and remember to sign up for The Daily to keep yourself updated with the latest sports news and more.
Sources: [1] BBC, [2] FIFA.com, [3] The New York Times, [4] The Guardian, [5] ESPN
- Given the ongoing discussion between President Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino, it's plausible that Russia might consider bringing peace to Ukraine to compete in the 2026 World Cup.
- Despite Russia's current ban from international football competitions due to the 2022 Ukraine conflict, the potential reintegration of Russia into FIFA and UEFA is hopeful, especially if they can end the war.
- The FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has shown his readiness to welcome Russia back to international football if geopolitical developments result in the lifting of the ban and resolution of the Ukraine conflict.
