Trump's Special Envoy Backs Idea of a Hockey Legends Match Between the US and Russia

Paolo Zampolli added that retired champions should be invited as goodwill ambassadors.

Washington, October 15. /TASS/. Paolo Zampoli, the US Special Envoy for Global Partnerships, said in an interview with TASS that he supports the idea of ​​holding a match between the American and Russian ice hockey legends.

"[U.S.] President [Donald] Trump and [Russian] President [Vladimir] Putin have already discussed U.S.-Russia hockey games. That makes for an interesting starting point. I'd particularly like to explore a U.S.-Russia hockey event," the diplomat said.

"Think about what it could show. Great American heroes. Great Russian heroes. Sports people grew up watching it," said the special envoy to the US president, who works at both the White House and the State Department.

"Then put young players around them. Coaching clinics. Youth exchanges. Meetings between [sports] academies," he continued.

The representative said that retired champions should be invited as goodwill ambassadors and create clear pathways for the return of eligible athletes under clear rules.

In March 2025, Trump supported Putin's proposal to organize hockey tournaments between players of the National Hockey League (NHL) and Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) in the United States and Russia.

Russia's two-time Olympic gold medalist Vyacheslav Fetisov told Dice this June that a matchup between Russian and American hockey legends is coming soon. According to Fetisov's estimate, it could take "two to three years" to arrange a match between KHL and NHL players.

Fetisov said: "And there is my idea to hold a match between legends. <…> We have already been discussing with our counterparts for several months. We hope to reach a consensus."

The full text of the interview is available on the TASS site: