President Donald Trump is set to welcome Cristiano Ronaldo to the White House on Tuesday, following Portugal’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Ronaldo will be among the headline attractions at next year’s World Cup, with the United States, Canada, and Mexico sharing hosting duties for the tournament.
The Portuguese superstar is also anticipated to face the United States men’s national team, with a warm-up friendly match reportedly being discussed ahead of the World Cup.
Trump has welcomed FIFA President Gianni Infantino to the Oval Office on multiple occasions, and now one of football’s greatest icons will meet the president, according to MS NOW.
Ronaldo recently stated his intentions to meet with Trump, and his request has been fulfilled. The report suggests that three White House officials have confirmed Ronaldo’s planned visit on the same day that Trump is scheduled to meet with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
It remains unclear whether the meetings are connected, given that Ronaldo plays his club football in Saudi Arabia for Al-Nassr.
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“We’re more than meeting,” Trump said of the Saudi prince on Friday. “We’re honouring Saudi Arabia, the crown prince.”
Ronaldo surprisingly revealed his wish to meet with Trump during a recent interview with Piers Morgan. Trump maintains a longstanding friendship with Morgan and presented the Celebrity Apprentice when the broadcaster triumphed in the reality TV programme in 2008. Morgan quizzed Ronaldo about a signed shirt he’d sent to Trump, with the message: “President Donald J. Trump, playing for peace.”
Ronaldo elaborated: “If the world is at peace, that’s our goal. He’s one of the people who can change or help change the world. And that’s my main objective: to meet Trump and talk about world peace. If you can make it happen, he’s someone I’d really like to sit down with.”
Donald Trump
Donald Trump has hosted FIFA President Gianni Infantino on a number of occasions (Image: Photo by Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP)
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Ronaldo made it clear he’d be happy to welcome Trump to Saudi Arabia if necessary, but instead, he will come to the U.S. President.
“Here, in the United States – wherever it happens, I’d like to meet him,” Ronaldo added. “I know he’s been to Saudi Arabia. I hope to sit down with him someday because he’s one of those people I really like. I think he can make things happen, and I respect people like that.”
Ronaldo then suggested he shares certain qualities with Trump, but declined to reveal what they are.
“I hope the world finds a path to peace soon,” Ronaldo explained. “That’s what I’m looking for. And someday, if I get the chance to sit down with him, I’ll tell him what we have in common. But I’ll keep it to myself until that moment.”
Ronaldo was absent from Portugal’s latest World Cup qualifier after receiving a one-match ban for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea. Portugal suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat to Ireland, but bounced back against Armenia days later.