Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Donald Trump, Russia, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Football
Tom Jenkins
Topics: Donald Trump, Russia, FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Football
U.S. President Donald Trump has had his say on allowing Russia to return to international football at the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico, and Canada.
As things stand, Russia are banned from competing in competitive international matches, meaning they are not eligible for next year's World Cup.
It will be jointly hosted across 16 cities in the three North American countries and will run from June 11th with the final taking place on July 19th, 2026.
The Russian national football team have been banned from international competition by FIFA and UEFA since the country's invasion of Ukraine which began in 2022.
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Speaking at the first meeting of his administration's 2026 World Cup task force earlier in the year, Trump claimed the opportunity for Russia to play at the 2026 World Cup could be an 'incentive' to end the war in Ukraine.
Asked for his position on Russia's ban at the 2026 World Cup, Trump appeared baffled and had no clue of the situation whist sat next to FIFA president Gianni Infantino.
Trump said: "I didn't know that. Is that right? Want to explain?"
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Infantino replied: "That is right. They are banned for the time being from playing but we hope that..."
Trump added: "He's the boss. I'm not the boss on that. I have nothing to do [with that]."
Infantino continued: "We hope that something happens, and peace will happen... and Russia can be readmitted."
To which Trump replied: "It's possible. Hey, that could be a good incentive, right? We want them to stop."
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Russia haven't played a competitive international game since a 2022 World Cup qualifier to Croatia back in November 2021.
They have played 20 friendlies since their defeat to Croatia, winning 12 of them with only one defeat.
Speaking at a UEFA congress in April, Infantino said he wanted to bring Russia back 'in the football landscape because this would mean that everything is solved'.
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UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin added: "When the war stops, [Russia] will be readmitted."
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup began in 2024, with 45 spots up for grabs in addition to the three host nations.