"North America does not even have to win. President Putin has said that he will be glad to see all guests here in Moscow, and, of course, this also applies to guests from the United States at the highest level," Peskov told journalists, when asked if Putin would invite leaders of North American countries to Russia if Canada, Mexico and the United States won their joint bid to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The 68th FIFA Congress began in Moscow earlier on Wednesday, which will decide on the hosts of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.