Video Trump says Putin “wants a lot” to come to the US World Cup. In the full conference with the FIFA chief he took out of the drawer a photo of him and the Russian counterpart
Donald Trump, presenting a photo with him and Vladimir Putin, while holding press statements with President FIFA, Gianni Infantino, Friday, August 22, 2025. Credit: Jacquelyn Martin / AP / Profimedia
President Donald Trump and FIFA chief, Gianni Infantino, held on Friday in the White House Oval Office next year's World Cup, which will be co-pushed by the US, and the US leader did not exclude the possibility of inviting him to the tour and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
While US officials and FIFA president were talking about the final tournament next summer, Trump has taken out a photo of him and Vladimir Putin, with whom last Friday met in Alaska.
“” I was just sent a photo from someone who wants to be very much there. He was very respectful to me and our country, but not so respectful to others. Trump said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jju2a8msol4
First World Cup with 48 teams
The 2026 World Cup will be hosted by the US, Canada and Mexico, being the first edition in which 48 teams will participate. According to President FIFA, the tournament will extend for a month and will include 104 matches.
“We unite the world, Mr. President, we unite the world, here, in America, and we are very proud of this,” Infantino told Trump, who gave him the World Cup trophy, quoted by Reuters.
The US president joked, telling FIFA chief that he would not give his trophy back.
During Friday's statements, Trump announced that the World Cup draw will take place at the John F. Kennedton center on December 5th.
Romania, which has not qualified for the 1998 World Cup, is the 3rd in a preliminary group with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Austria, Cyprus and San Marino, currently having a minimum chance of qualifying for the final tournament through the classical preliminaries.
