US President Donald Trump says the opportunity for Russia to play at the 2026 World Cup could be an “incentive” to end the war in Ukraine.

The U.S. president campaigned on ending the war in Ukraine on “day one” of office if he was elected for a second time in November 2024.

Speaking at the first meeting of his administration’s 2026 World Cup taskforce, Trump said reinstating Russia for the tournament could end the war in Ukraine.

The Russian national football team has been banned from international competition by FIFA and UEFA since the country’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Sitting next to Fifa president Gianni Infantino, Trump was unaware that Russia were banned from the tournament.

“I didn’t know that. Is that right?” Trump asked.

“That is right,” said Infantino.

“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.”

Trump said: “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.”

Trump said Infantino is “the boss” when it comes to a decision over Russia’s participation and that he had “nothing to do” with any call to reinstate them.