Trump Suggests the 2026 World Cup as Incentive for Ending the War in Ukraine
Former U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested that participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be an “incentive” for Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Russian national teams have been excluded from international competitions by FIFA and UEFA since 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine.
The qualification for the 2026 World Cup, which will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, began in 2023, with 45 available spots in addition to those of the host countries.
During the first meeting of the World Cup working group of the administration, Trump expressed his ignorance about the exclusion of Russia according to the current rules, but suggested that the end of the war could pave the way for its reincorporation.
I didn’t know that, is that right? Do you want to explain that?
Donald Trump
That’s right. They are banned for the moment, but we hope that something will happen and that there will be peace so that Russia can be readmitted.
Gianni Infantino
Trump responded:
That’s possible. Hey, it could be a good incentive, right?
Donald Trump
President Trump and Gianni Infantino at the first meeting of the 2026 World Cup task force.
Trump added: “We want them to stop. We want them to stop. 5,000 people are dying a week, it’s incredible. We are going to stop that war.”
The European qualification for next summer’s tournament officially began with the Nations League in March. A total of 16 UEFA nations will qualify for the World Cup.
Russia have not played an official match since the defeat in the 2022 World Cup qualifying against Croatia in November 2021.
Since then, he has played 16 friendlies, winning 11 of them.
Infantino stated at a UEFA congress in April that he wanted to reinstate Russia “into the footballing landscape because that would mean everything is resolved”.
The UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, added: “When the war ends, [Russia] will be readmitted.”
