2026 World Cup could encourage russia to end war - Trump

US President Donald Trump said that allowing the aggressor country of russia to the 2026 World Cup could be an "incentive" to end the war against Ukraine. This was reported by BBC Sport on Wednesday, May 7.

Trump spoke at the first meeting of his administration's working group on the 2026 World Cup. According to him, russia's return to the tournament could "end the war in Ukraine." It turned out that the US President was unaware that russia had been suspended from the World Cup. FIFA President Gianni Infantino confirmed russia's exclusion.

"They're currently banned from playing, but we hope that something will happen and peace will come so that russia can be allowed back in. That's possible. Hey, that could be a good incentive, right? We want them to stop," Trump said.

The publication recalls that under current rules, russia will not play in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico. Qualification began in September 2023, and in 2022, FIFA and UEFA suspended the russian national football team from international competitions after the invasion of Ukraine.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on May 5, US President Donald Trump admitted that Moscow seeks a complete seizure of Ukraine.

On May 6, Trump said that the decline in oil prices is increasing pressure on the aggressor country of russia and increasing the likelihood of a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine.

On May 7, Trump criticized the decision to expel the aggressor country of russia from the G7.