FIFA president Gianni Infantino has expressed a desire to see Russia’s football team return to international competitions, including the World Cup, after the nation was banned from playing following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Infantino’s comments come at a time when political dynamics between Russia, the US, and Ukraine are shifting, with former US president Donald Trump seeking a peace deal with Russian president Vladimir Putin.
Speaking in Northern Ireland, Infantino emphasized the importance of peace and the role football could play in fostering global unity once the conflict is resolved. “We all hope that peace talks will be successful because I think it is important that we support it for the world, much more than for football, that we have peace,” Infantino said.
While the FIFA president refrained from making direct political statements, his remarks appear to align with Trump’s pursuit of a peace deal that, according to reports, leaves Ukraine on the sidelines. This has led to tensions between Trump and Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, who was reportedly kicked out of the White House after a public disagreement with Trump.
Infantino, who has recently met with Trump, emphasized the significance of strong relationships in the world of football and reiterated that once peace is achieved, all countries, including Russia, should be able to participate in international tournaments.
“If there is a little role that football can play, once peace is there, then of course, we’ll play our role, and we look forward that all countries in the world can play football”.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, with the US, Mexico, and Canada set to host the tournament, Infantino shared his pride in taking football to different parts of the globe. Despite controversy surrounding the previous World Cups in Russia and Qatar, Infantino underscored that football is a universal sport, uniting people across the world.
“We give opportunities to people for people to meet each other and to come together,” Infantino concluded, reinforcing FIFA’s commitment to spreading the love of the game worldwide.