President Donald Trump has said that the opportunity to compete at football's 2026 World Cup could be an "incentive" for Russia to end the war with Ukraine.
Russian national teams have been banned from international competitions by both FIFA and UEFA since 2022, days after the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Qualification for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico began in 2023, with 45 spots up for grabs in addition to the host nations.
Speaking alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the first meeting of his administration's World Cup taskforce, Trump said he was unaware that Russia would be excluded under current rules, but suggested that ending the war could pave the way for their reinstatement.