Is Vladimir Putin invited to the 2026 World Cup?

While Russia is nibbling away at eastern Ukraine, the Russian president could be looking at a completely different terrain in 2026.

US President Donald Trump has just announced that his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, "may or may not attend" the 2026 World Cup, which is being co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He added: "It will depend on what happens; we have a lot of things happening in the next two weeks." According to him, the Kremlin leader is "very eager" to attend the sporting competition, from which, as a reminder, Russia has been excluded.

“A great picture of Putin”

"I was just sent a picture of someone who really wants to be here. He's been very respectful to me, to our country, even though he hasn't been to others. I'm going to sign it for him. I was sent one, and I thought you all might want to see it. It's a man named Vladimir Putin, who I think is coming. I thought it was a great picture of him. Not great of me, but great of him," Trump said, holding up a photo of himself alongside Putin during their meeting in Alaska a week ago.

(MH with Manon Pierre - Source : 20 Minutes/DH - Picture : ©picture alliance / newscom | BONNIE CASH)