On Friday, President Trump mentioned that there’s a possibility Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico. He shared photos of himself and Putin during a meeting in the Oval Office.
While hosting FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Trump revealed that the World Cup draw is scheduled to take place at the Kennedy Center in December. At one point, he opened a drawer and pulled out a photo, noting, “I received this photo from someone who had a lot of respect for me and our country, even if not for everyone else. I think it was Vladimir Putin.”
Trump speculated about whether Putin might attend, indicating it would depend on future developments. “He may come, or he may not, depending on what happens. There’s a lot happening in the upcoming weeks. But I thought this was a great picture,” he added.
He didn’t clarify if Putin would take part in the games held in the US, Canada, or Mexico, although it is anticipated that the majority of the over 100 matches will be in the US.
The photo was captured during a recent meeting in Alaska, where Trump and Putin discussed the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump also conveyed that he had spoken with Putin earlier, expressing dissatisfaction regarding Russia’s attack on a US factory in Ukraine, saying, “I told him I wasn’t satisfied, and I’m not happy about anything related to that war.” He mentioned he would monitor developments closely over the next couple of weeks.
Earlier in the week, during a meeting with European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump took a moment to call Putin. Following the discussion at the White House, he expressed intentions to facilitate a bilateral meeting between Putin and Zelensky. Since then, Russia has indicated a more measured approach to talks with Ukraine, though doubts remain about the immediate feasibility of a peace agreement.
