AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais
Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, presents a soccer ball to U.S. President Donald Trump, left, during a press conference after their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, Monday, July 16, 2018.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin handed US President Donald Trump a World Cup soccer ball during their joint press conference on Monday.
- The press conference followed a two-hour summit between the two leaders in Helsinki, Finland.
- Putin announced that he was giving Trump the ball in honor of the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the World Cup in 2026.
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave President Donald Trump a World Cup soccer ball during a joint press conference following their summit in Finland on Monday.
Putin announced that he was giving Trump the ball in honor of the United States, Canada, and Mexico hosting the World Cup in 2026.
"Mr. President, I will give this ball to you, and now the ball is in your court," Putin said as the crowd laughed.
It came after a reporter mentioned the World Cup in a question in which he used soccer as a metaphor for a ball being in Putin's "court."
Trump tossed the ball to First Lady Melania Trump, saying he would give it to their 12-year-old son Barron, before the presidents continued their press conference.
"That will go to my son Barron. In fact, Melania? Here you go," Trump said to Melania after she caught it.
REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque
U.S. President Donald Trump throws a football to U.S. First Lady Melania Trump during a joint news conference with Russia's President Vladimir Putin after their meeting in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018.
Russia just finished hosting the 2018 World Cup on Sunday, which saw France take home the title.
Ahead of the US, Mexico, and Canada hosting the World Cup in 2026, Qatar will hold the international event in 2022.
Trump and Putin's joint press conference came after a summit in Helsinki, Finland, in which, according to the US president, the pair discussed disagreements between their countries "at length."
During their two-hour meeting, only Trump, Putin and translators were present in the room. The White House had scheduled 90 minutes for the meeting.
Putin: Speaking of football, Mr. President, I give this ball to you and now the 'ball is in your court.' All the more that the United States will host the World Cup in 2026.
President Trump then throws gifted soccer ball to First lady Melania https://t.co/ayZoKGvWxk pic.twitter.com/KL9BjrZBI7
- CBS News (@CBSNews) July 16, 2018