DONALD TRUMP has claimed the 2026 Fifa World Cup could be an “incentive” to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
Russia has been banned from playing in international competitions since the nation’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
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The US president claimed he would end the ongoing conflict on “day one” of being in office during his campaign.
Trump, 78, began his second term as president on January 20 – over 100 days ago – and the war is still ongoing.
Current rules state that Russia will not take part in next summer’s World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico.
The ban was put in place by Fifa and Uefa and includes removing Russian clubs’ places in European competition.
Trump has now claimed that letting Russia back into the footballing world could incentivise an end to the war in Ukraine.
He made the suggestion during his administration’s World Cup taskforce in the presence of Fifa president Gianni Infantino.
At first, he was unaware that Russia was banned from the tournament.
He asked: “I didn’t know that. Is that right?”
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To which Infantino replied: “That is right.
“They are banned for the time being from playing but we hope that something happens and peace will happen so that Russia can be readmitted.”
2026 World Cup stadiums
Here are the stadiums that will feature at the World Cup…
Mexico
- Estadio Banorte, Mexico City – 87,523
- Estadio BBVA, Monterrey – 53,500
- Estadio Akron, Guadalajara – 49,850
Canada
- BC Place, Vancouver – 54,500
- BMO Field, Toronto – 28,180
US
- MetLife Stadium, New York – 82,500
- AT&T Stadium, Dallas – 80,000
- GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City – 76,416
- NRG Stadium, Houston – 72,220
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta – 71,000
- SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles – 70,240
- Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia – 69,796
- Lumen Field, Seattle – 69,000
- Levis’ Stadium, San Franciso – 68,500
- Gillette Stadium, Boston – 65,878
- Hard Rock Stadium, Miami – 64,767
The former Apprentice US host suggested: “That’s possible. Hey, that could be a good incentive, right?
“We want to get them to stop. We want them to stop.
“Five thousand young people a week are being killed – it’s not even believable.”
However, Trump admitted that Infantino was “the boss” when it came to decision-making over football.
He also insisted that he would have “nothing to do” with any demands to have Vladimir Putin’s Russia reinstated.
In February, it was reported that Ukraine had suffered losses of over 46,000 soldiers since the invasion in February 2022.
Previously thriving Ukrainian cities such as Mariupol and Bakhmut have been reduced to rubble.
Meanwhile, vice-president JD Vance demanded that travelling supporters must “go home” after the tournament.
Some 78 of the 104 matches of the tournament will be hosted in the US, including the final.
The World Tourism Forum Institute has warned the US that the current strict immigration policies could disrupt fans’ travel plans.
Vance said: “I know we’ll have visitors, probably from close to 100 countries.
“We want them to come. We want them to celebrate. We want them to watch the game.
“But when the time is up, they’ll have to go home.”
It is expected that two million tourists will make the trip to the US, Canada and Mexico for the World Cup.
Tickes for the 2026 World Cup have already gone on sale with packages costing up to a whopping £55,000.
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