During a high-level meeting focused on preparations for the 2026 World Cup, US President Donald Trump said the chance for Russia to return to international football could serve as motivation to end the war in Ukraine.
The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, has already seen its qualification process begin, but Russia remains excluded due to its military actions in Ukraine.
Russia has been banned from global football competitions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Both Fifa and Uefa implemented the sanctions in response to the conflict, effectively shutting the country out of all official international play. As it stands, Russia is not allowed to participate in the 2026 World Cup, and there has been no formal indication that this status will change.
At the inaugural session of the US World Cup taskforce, Trump floated the idea that readmitting Russia might help encourage peace. Seated beside Fifa President Gianni Infantino, Trump appeared unaware of the ban. After Infantino confirmed the suspension, Trump responded by calling the idea of using the tournament as a peace incentive “possible,” adding that he believed Russia needed to be pushed toward ending the war.
Trump, who has made the promise to end the Ukraine conflict part of his re-election campaign, did not suggest that he would intervene in Fifa’s decision-making process. He acknowledged that Infantino held authority on team participation and stated that the US government would not get involved in that specific issue.
Meanwhile, US Vice-President JD Vance used the occasion to address concerns about immigration during the World Cup. Vance welcomed international visitors to attend matches but insisted that all fans must return home when the event concludes. With 78 of the 104 matches set to be held in the United States—including the final—the country is preparing for an influx of millions of fans from around the world.
The US Department of Homeland Security has already begun handling visa and travel document processing in anticipation of next year’s event. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed that systems put in place for the upcoming Fifa Club World Cup will serve as a model for handling the larger World Cup tournament.
The World Tourism Forum Institute has cautioned that strict immigration rules and global tensions could affect travel during the tournament. However, US officials remain confident in their ability to manage the process smoothly.
While Trump’s comments about Russia’s potential reinstatement added a new layer to the political conversation around the World Cup, Fifa has yet to issue a statement on whether the ban might be lifted if the war ends. For now, Russia’s exclusion from international football remains in place, and its future participation will depend on both political and sporting developments.