FIFA President Gianni Infantino has expressed his hope for Russia’s return to international football, despite the country’s ongoing ban following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Speaking at a meeting in Northern Ireland on Friday, Infantino emphasized the importance of global peace efforts, suggesting that successful negotiations could pave the way for Russia’s re-entry into international competitions, including the FIFA World Cup.
“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 stated.
The Political Context
Infantino’s remarks come at a time when former U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly pursuing a peace deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, largely excluding Ukraine from negotiations. The situation escalated further last week when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was allegedly removed from the White House following a public dispute with Trump, who recently referred to him as a “dictator.”
Infantino, who attended Trump’s speech, appears to have aligned with the former U.S. president’s position, highlighting their relationship as “critical” to the success of global football events.
World Cup and FIFA’s Global Vision
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, Infantino has continued to advocate for football as a unifying force across different regions. While FIFA has faced criticism for awarding the last two tournaments to Russia (2018) and Qatar (2022), Infantino remains firm on his stance that “football is the game of everyone.”
The prospect of Russia’s return to international competition remains uncertain, but Infantino’s comments suggest FIFA is open to reintegrating the nation’s football team if geopolitical conditions improve. Whether this stance will face opposition from other football federations and governing bodies remains to be seen.
