Former US President Donald Trump recently said that allowing Russia to play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup could help bring an end to the war in Ukraine. He suggested this idea while speaking with FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
Since February 2022, Russia has been banned from international football by FIFA and UEFA. This decision was made after Russia invaded Ukraine. The ban covers both national teams and club teams, stopping them from joining tournaments like the World Cup and European Championships.
As of now, the ban is still in place. This means Russia will not be allowed to play in the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Trump was asked about Russia possibly playing in the next World Cup. He was surprised to hear that Russia is banned and looked to FIFA’s Infantino for confirmation. Infantino said yes, Russia is currently not allowed to compete.
Gianni Infantino mentioned that FIFA hopes for peace in the near future. If the war ends, there’s a chance Russia could be allowed to return to international football events.
Trump responded by saying that the chance to play in the World Cup might be a good “incentive” to stop the war. He said, “We want them to stop,” adding that thousands of young soldiers from both Russia and Ukraine are dying each week.
Trump called the war “horrible” and said efforts must be made to bring peace. He believes using sports, like football, could be a creative way to encourage Russia to end the conflict.
Right now, Russia is not in the qualifying process for the 2026 World Cup. Unless the ban is lifted and peace returns, Russia will not be part of the tournament next year.
