- US President Donald Trump suggested that Russian leader Vladimir Putin could be invited to the 2026 World Cup, stating Putin wants to be there “very badly”.
- Trump displayed a picture of himself and Putin from their recent summit in Alaska while announcing the date and draw for the 2026 tournament.
- The upcoming World Cup will be jointly hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico, despite Russia currently being banned from all Fifa and Uefa competitions due to the conflict in Ukraine.
- Putin recently expressed that Trump's leadership qualities could help restore US-Russia relations, following their meeting in Alaska.
- Trump indicated he would assess the situation regarding the conflict in Ukraine within approximately two weeks before deciding on further actions or potential sanctions.
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