At a recent FIFA taskforce meeting, U.S. President Donald Trump made an unexpected pitch- bring Russia back to the World Cup to help stop the war in Ukraine. Speaking alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump floated the idea that re-admitting Russia to the 2026 tournament could serve as a peace incentive.
“I didn’t know that, is that right?” Trump said when informed that Russia remains banned from FIFA and UEFA competitions. Turning to Infantino, he added, “He is the boss, I am not the boss on that.” Infantino confirmed the ban but followed up with a hopeful note. “We hope that something happens and peace will happen so that Russia can be readmitted,” he said.
World Cup As A Diplomatic Tool?
Trump’s comments came as part of the first meeting of his World Cup taskforce, a group helping shape the 2026 tournament co-hosted by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. He suggested the global spotlight of the event could push Russia toward ending the war. “Hey, that could be a good incentive, right?” he said. “We want them to stop. Five thousand young people a week are being killed… Russian soldiers and Ukrainian soldiers mostly. Horrible things going on over there.”
Russia has been sidelined from international football since it invaded Ukraine in 2022. The nation was excluded from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and is not part of the European qualification rounds for 2026. Despite the ban, the Russian national team has continued to play friendly matches outside the official calendar.
Infantino, who has previously voiced hope that football might help bridge the conflict, echoed Trump’s sentiment. Back in March, he said, “As talks are going on for peace in Ukraine, I hope we can soon move to the next stage and bring back Russia in the football landscape, because this would mean everything is solved.”
Though Trump acknowledged he had been unaware of the ban, he emphasized the importance of ending the conflict. “We are going to get that war stopped,” he said.
With qualifying matches already underway, Russia’s absence from the process makes any late re-entry unlikely. But the conversation highlights the ongoing debate about the role of sports in global diplomacy, and whether the world’s biggest tournament can offer more than just football.
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