US President Donald Trump is preparing to roll out the red carpet for soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at the White House on Tuesday after Portugal qualified for the 2026 World Cup. Ronaldo, who will be one of the highlights of next year’s tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, is also expected to play against the United States men’s national team in a pre-World Cup friendly.
President Trump has previously hosted FIFA president Gianni Infantino in the Oval Office, but this time Ronaldo will make his first public appearance in the United States in nearly a decade, meeting one of soccer’s all-time greats. Ronaldo recently expressed his desire to meet with President Trump, and his wish has come true.
The Athletic claimed that Ronaldo’s scheduled visit coincides with a scheduled meeting between President Trump and Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. It remains to be determined whether the two talks are related, considering that Ronaldo is currently playing soccer in Saudi Arabia for Al Nasr.
“We don’t just meet,” President Trump said Friday of the Saudi crown prince. “We honor the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia.”
Ronaldo suddenly revealed his desire to meet President Trump in an interview with Piers Morgan. Mr. Trump has maintained a long-standing friendship with Mr. Morgan, hosting “Celebrity Apprentice” when the network won the reality show in 2008.
Morgan asked about an autographed shirt that Ronaldo sent to Trump that read, “President Donald J. Trump, playing for peace.”
Ronaldo explained, “If there is peace in the world, that’s our goal. He’s one of the people who can change the world or help change the world. And that’s my main objective: to meet Trump and talk about world peace. If that can happen, he’s someone I really want to sit down with.”
Ronaldo made it clear that he would welcome President Trump to Saudi Arabia if necessary, but would instead travel to meet the U.S. president.
“I want to see him here, in the US, wherever,” Ronaldo added. “I know he’s been to Saudi Arabia. He’s one of the guys I really like, so I’d love to sit down with him someday. I think he can make things happen, and I respect that kind of guy.”
Ronaldo has since suggested that he shares certain traits with Trump, but declined to say what they are.
“I hope the world can find a way to peace soon,” Ronaldo explained. “That’s what I’m looking for. And someday I’m going to tell him what we have in common. But I’ll keep it a secret until that moment.”
Ronaldo missed Portugal’s recent World Cup qualifiers after receiving a one-match ban for elbowing Ireland defender Dara O’Shea.
