According to the US president, Russia's readmission to the competition could spur an end to the war in Ukraine

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Trump supports Russia's participation in the 2026 football World Cup

In a recent meeting of the 2026 World Cup Working Group with FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Donald Trump suggested that reinstating Russia in the competition could pave the way for an end to the war in Ukraine. 

During the meeting Trump admitted he knew nothing about the ban: ‘I don't know anything about the ban. Is that true?’ the US president asked Infantino, who replied: ‘Yes. The Russian team is temporarily suspended. We hope that something will happen, that the conflict will end and that the Russian team can compete again’. An idea that Trump supported: ‘That could happen. That could be a good incentive to end the conflict, couldn't it?’

It is not the first time that Infantino has confessed his desire for the Russian national team to return to major international tournaments, arguing that it would mean that ‘everything is resolved’. A view he shares with UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin.

The World Cup will be played in 2026 in the United States, Mexico and Canada and its qualification that began in 2023 has 45 places, of which 16 are earmarked for European countries, in addition to those of the host countries. For Russia to play again would require the approval of the UEFA Executive Committee. If 10 of the 18 members vote in favour, including Russian Football Federation president Aleksandr Dyukov, the Russian national team could return to European tournaments and play in the World Cup.

The last time Russia took part in an international match was in defeat to Croatia in the 2022 World Cup final. Since then the Russian national team has only played friendly matches, winning 11 out of 16 of them, in the last four years.