Speaking at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) Summit in Moscow on Tuesday, Putin called for fairness in the global transition towards cleaner energy.

He argued that developing nations should not be discouraged from using hydrocarbons without considering their economic needs and access to investment and technology .

"Of course, this transition to a fully green agenda must be fair. How could it be otherwise? Today's European Union was built as a union of coal and steel, we all remember that. It was on coal and hydrocarbons that the economy of today's Europe was built up. And now, having reached a certain level of development, our colleagues in Europe are telling other countries, primarily developing ones, that they must not use hydrocarbons. But why should they be denied that? What are they supposed to do? Where are they to get the investment, where are they to get the technology? Is that fair?" Putin said.

His remarks focused on the challenges facing developing economies as countries seek to reduce dependence on fossil fuels.

The Russian leader questioned how poorer nations could finance their development and obtain the technology needed for an energy transition if they were expected to move away from hydrocarbons.

Putin made the comments during the GECF Summit, scheduled for October 27, which brought together leaders from major gas-exporting nations to discuss international energy markets , natural gas development and cooperation among producers.

Established in 2001, the GECF comprises 12 member countries: Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, the United Arab Emirates and Venezuela .

Since 2011, the organisation has held summits every two years to discuss the role of natural gas in the global economy.

Its activities also include monitoring and forecasting gas market developments, exchanging expertise and encouraging technological cooperation among member states.

Dodik, who leads the Alliance of Independent Social Democrats (SNSD), made the comments on Tuesday as he reflected on his latest meeting with Putin.

"I believe President Putin is one of the most peace-loving leaders of our time. I know many European leaders - they are always fiercely opposing something or someone, whereas President Putin, from the very beginning and in all my contacts with him, has of course said that he does not want suffering and does not want war , but NATO's attempt to advance all the way to Moscow had to be stopped," Dodik said.

He described his meeting with Putin as “warm and excellent”, saying discussions covered cooperation between the two sides and other major issues.

"We spoke very easily about the topics you already know about, and we found answers to all the issues that were discussed. The key issue, of course, was our co-operation in all areas. We have a strategic relationship. We speak very openly about all important issues, and we share a common position on the most important matters, such as our support for Russia in the special military operation ( Ukraine conflict) and our wish for Russia to finish this and show everyone that it is undoubtedly a global leader and a global power," Dodik said.

Putin, Dodik and Republika Srpska Prime Minister Savo Minic held talks in Moscow on September 29.

FIFA's expanded 2026 World Cup is not only the largest tournament in the competition's history but also the most lucrative, with the winning nation set to receive $50 million in prize money, according to FIFA's official financial framework for the tournament.

The competition, hosted across the United States , Canada and Mexico, features a record 48 teams, up from 32 in previous editions. The expanded format has significantly increased financial rewards, ensuring every participating nation receives a substantial payout regardless of performance.

Under FIFA's prize distribution model, the tournament champions will earn $50 million, while the runners-up will receive $33 million. The third-placed team will take home $29 million, and the fourth-placed side will collect $27 million.

Quarter-finalists are guaranteed $19 million each; teams reaching the Round of 16 will earn $15 million, while nations eliminated in the Round of 32 receive $11 million. Teams exiting in the first knockout round, known as the Round of 48, will receive $9 million.

In addition to performance-based prize money, FIFA has allocated $2.5 million in preparation funding to every qualified nation. This means all 48 participants are guaranteed at least $12.5 million from the tournament.

The increased payouts reflect FIFA's growing commercial revenues from broadcasting rights, sponsorships and global partnerships. The governing body has projected record revenues for the 2023-2026 cycle, driven largely by the first-ever 48-team men's World Cup.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has repeatedly stated that the expanded tournament is designed to increase global participation while ensuring more nations benefit financially from football's biggest event.

For emerging football nations, the guaranteed payments can provide a significant boost to infrastructure development, youth programmes and national team operations. For smaller federations, a World Cup appearance can generate revenues that exceed several years of normal football income.

FIFA World Cup 2026 Prize Money

According to FIFA, the expanded financial structure ensures that all participating nations share in the economic benefits of the world's most-watched sporting event while maintaining substantial rewards for teams that advance deep into the tournament.

Germany and the United States sit atop football's all-time World Cup honours list when men's and women's FIFA World Cup titles are combined, underlining decades of dominance across both sides of the game.

According to FIFA records and Women's World Cup archives, Germany has won six FIFA World Cup titles — four men's crowns and two women's championships — while the United States has captured four Women's World Cup titles, the most by any nation in the women's game.

The combined rankings highlight a small group of countries that have consistently produced elite national teams, with Brazil , Italy, Argentina and France also featuring prominently among football's most successful nations.

Germany's men's team won the FIFA World Cup in 1954, 1974, 1990 and 2014, while Germany's women lifted the Women's World Cup in 2003 and 2007, becoming the first nation to win both the men's and women's global titles.

Germany's six combined titles place it among football's most successful countries across both competitions.

The United States owes its place among football's most successful nations largely to the achievements of the US Women's National Team.

The Americans won Women's World Cup titles in 1991, 1999, 2015 and 2019, more than any other nation. The team also became the first to win back-to-back Women's World Cups since Germany's consecutive triumphs in 2003 and 2007.

The USWNT remains one of the most successful teams in international sport and continues to rank among the world's elite women's national sides.

Brazil also remains the most successful nation in the men's FIFA World Cup, having won a record five titles in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002. However, the country's women's team has yet to win a Women's World Cup despite reaching the 2007 final.

Argentina, France and Uruguay have also strengthened their standing through success in the men's tournament, while Japan and Norway entered football history by winning Women's World Cup titles in 2011 and 1995, respectively.

FIFA World Cup history shows that when it comes to all-continent finals, Europe has overwhelmingly dominated the sport's biggest stag e.

Since the inaugural tournament in 1930, there have been 11 World Cup finals contested by teams from the same continent, with nine featuring two European nations and only two involving South American rivals, according to FIFA records.

The trend highlights Europe's sustained strength in international football, particularly since the latter half of the 20th century, as UEFA nations have regularly produced multiple title contenders capable of reaching the final.

The first all-European World Cup final took place in 1934, when host nation Italy defeated Czechoslovakia 2-1 after extra time in Rome. Four years later, Italy successfully defended its title with a 4-2 victory over Hungary.

Subsequent all-European finals came in:

Many of these matches became defining moments in football history , including England's only World Cup triumph in 1966 and Spain's maiden title in 2010.

South America has produced only two same-continent finals, both in the tournament's early decades.

The first World Cup final in 1930 saw Uruguay defeat Argentina 4-2 in Montevideo, while 1950 featured the famous Uruguay-Brazil showdown at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã Stadium, where Uruguay stunned the hosts 2-1 in what became known as the "Maracanazo."

Despite South America producing some of football's most successful nations, including Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay, intercontinental finals have been far more common than all-CONMEBOL deciders.

A review of player birthplaces shows 98 World Cup players were born in France, more than any other country. The figure reflects not only France's renowned football development system but also the increasingly international nature of modern football, where players often represent nations linked to their family heritage rather than their place of birth.

The trend has been highlighted in reporting by The New York Times , which has documented how migration, dual nationality and diaspora communities have transformed the composition of national teams across major international tournaments.

The 10 most common birthplaces among players at the 2026 World Cup are:

Europe accounts for nine of the top ten birthplaces, highlighting the continent's continued dominance in player development and elite football infrastructure .

A global game with local roots

Many players born in France represent countries in Africa, the Caribbean and other regions due to FIFA eligibility rules, which allow athletes to play for nations connected through parents, grandparents or citizenship.

France's diverse population and extensive youth academy network have helped make the country one of football's most productive talent exporters. Similar patterns can be seen in the Netherlands, England, Belgium and Germany, where multicultural communities have contributed significantly to the international player pool.

India, the world's most populous country with more than 1.47 billion people, remains the largest nation never to qualify for a FIFA World Cup , highlighting one of international football's most striking contrasts between population size and sporting success.

Data compiled by Seasia Stats , based on global population estimates and FIFA qualification records, shows that several of the world's most populous countries have yet to make an appearance at football's premier tournament despite representing hundreds of millions of people.

India tops the list, followed by Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ethiopia and the Philippines, all nations with populations exceeding 100 million.

While countries such as Brazil, Argentina, Germany and France have built rich World Cup traditions, many heavily populated nations continue to struggle to reach the finals.

According to Seasia Stats, the ten most populous countries that have never qualified for a FIFA World Cup are:

Together, these nations account for more than 2.4 billion people , nearly one-third of the world's population.

Speaking at the plenary session on Thursday, Putin said co-operation between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations has helped support regional balance during a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

"The Association of Southeast Asian Nations enjoys respect not only across the Asia-Pacific region but also globally. It has stood the test of time by building a system of interstate co-operation founded on generally recognised international norms and mutual consideration of interests. These principles underpin Russia’s relations with Asia. They are of a strategic nature, which, amid current geopolitical turbulence, serves as an essential stabilising factor in the Asia-Pacific. They promote the development of a balanced security architecture and fair, mutually beneficial co-operation," Putin emphasised.

The Russian leader said the summit would focus on reviewing decades of co-operation and setting priorities for future engagement between Russia and ASEAN member states.

"Exchanging views on key regional and international issues, assessing the results of Russian-ASEAN co-operation over the past 35 years, and discussing the future direction, goals, and objectives of our strategic partnership. Naturally, during the course of discussions, other matters may also be raised," he added.

The Russia-ASEAN Summit is being held in Kazan from June 17 to 19 and brings together representatives from across Southeast Asia .

ASEAN's members are Brunei, Vietnam, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines and Timor-Leste.